Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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TART Challenge2 - Bookin' It (17)
Task 2 CompletedTask: Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.
Book/cover link:
Page numbers with source: 319 pages Kindle GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary.: New to me author Jamie McGuire https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Date Completed: Sep 16, 2020
Rating/Review: 2 Stars
Beautiful disaster is a waking, walking, fucking disaster!
Been there, done that, and I know it isn't as romantic as it is done in the books.
It is about a TOXIC love story, where a girl is mentally harassed, threatened, but she still stays strong, because "She isn't like the other girls!"
Ugh, I had a lot of triggers because I am ashamed to admit that for a trivial part of the story, I was ABBY (h), and it isn't as sweet and romantic as this story portrays. So, I am going so low down with the stars as I can't wrap around my head in making it beautiful. It is ugly and I never would share my story with anyone. It is that pathetic.
Coming to the book, Abby, an 18-year-old girl, doesn't have a true characterization to define her. It is written like Twilight and 50SOG, such as the readers could easily wear her shoe and pretend they are Abby, chased and being desperately loved by Travis, the hottest boy in town who could make every girl on campus to drop their panties.
There is an allure to such type of writing because I can easily slip away from my true, ugly life with ups and downs, and pretend that I am that most desired girl on earth. I get it. It isn't wrong or anything like that. But I can't appreciate a character here. Because there is no character, it is just a self-wish.
The male lead characterization was also another self-wish validating misogynistic wish, a woman is presumed to crave for in a man. Invalidating space, protecting his girl from other males, constantly trashing all other women to beautify the ONE, having a sick-twisted past, controlling a woman's dressing sense, not to mention how he is THE GOD in the ring fight. There isn't anything beautiful in him that I admired, except that he wasn't physically abusing Abby. And that isn't criteria enough for a man I would root for. I wanted more.
The friends like America, Shepley are caricatures who are there to always support the MCs. Abby herself tells America is her conscience. There isn't a solid characterization. Most of them are just names, that we are supposed to pretend to be Abby's fun-filled life.
Although, the book has few appealing moments. With a variety of scenes and slow-paced, clipped dialogues, it pulled me into the fantasy world. There are a few conflicting moments that are captured well during the angst period. Abby's need to run away from Travis came quite close to the truth. Her decision to date another guy also scored good points to the plot, and it made me want to know how the third guy will make changes in her perspective. Travis crying one moment in weakness and the constant endearment of calling Abby as "Pidge", forces us to like him, partially.
At the same time, it wore me off, and I found the triangle love story so shallow. Abby is a walking conflict. She wants Travis and she wants Parker. While dating Parker, she is still sleeping in Travis' bed. When someone points out, how twisted that is, she gets angered on them but not at Travis who manipulated her into a bet. She just can't decide what she wants and uses others for her benefit. We already know that Parker has no chance and Abby is going to dump him.
It isn't my cup of tea. But there is an appeal to this book that 50SOG and Twilight has. It isn't wrong to enjoy this book and I enjoyed bits and pieces of it. Definitely not a literary marvel or anywhere close to a proper literature.
Task 2 completed.Task: Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.
Book/cover link: Darkfever
Page numbers with source: Kindle Edition, 382 pages
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary.: New to me author Karen Marie Moning
Date Completed: 9/17/2020
Rating/Review: 4 Stars
Finished reading my book. I’ll write a review some time tomorrow. But I did rate the book already. The book wasn’t bad but it was mostly world/character building.
@Jans Just read your review. That book really does seem like a bad disaster....Hopefully you are able to read a new book to cleanse your book palette.
Busy Right Meow wrote: "@Jans Just read your review. That book really does seem like a bad disaster....Hopefully you are able to read a new book to cleanse your book palette."Yeah, Kitty. I am quite old now, clearly knowing what is right and wrong and so it ticked me that such a toxic thing could be appreciated as a good relationship and they get a HEA.
But there are many who seemed to have enjoyed it. There is some teeny-tiny bits of angst that keeps us hooked. Only not my type. Right now, digging for T.J.Klune's to read a nice story.
Sorry you had to go through that book Jans. I read it so long ago and I can't even remember what drew me to it in the first place. Of course, I was a different and naive person 5 years ago. I am hoping to have my book done tonight. Still have a chunk to go, but according to my app with the pace I should have it done in a few hours.
Kitty, I’m adding the book you read to my tbr. George sounds amazing! Jans, I’m sorry to hear the book was a disaster.
Task 2 completed.Task: Each player reads a book by a new to you author - no pass for this task.
Book/cover link: Wait for Me
Page numbers with source: Kindle Edition, 299 pages
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary.: New to me author Tia Louise
Date Completed: 9/17/2020
Rating/Review: 4 Stars
I love a good brothers best friend romance and this did not disappoint. If you have a problem with insta love, this story may not be for you. I did not realize the book was broken into 2 parts, past and present. I did not read the whole summary and I am glad I didn't because I loved the surprise. I also love romances with children in the story. Something about the innocence and comedic timing of a child just makes the story even better. I look forward to reading the other stories in this series.
@Hayde Everytime I think of George's name it makes me giggle haha 🦝@Katelyn Sounds like you ended up picking an enjoyable read! I have that author's book on my TBR too so probably bump her up more.
I posted our completion post in the main thread. 😄
I have not read books as quickly as I have with this challenge. I am glad this challenge is helping me choose books as well as knock some things off my TBR.
Can't wait to start our new task when I get home from work tomorrow! Hopefully we will find out in the morning and I can start reading something during my lunch hour.
I hope so too! It will be a good way to kickstart the weekend. And I totally know what you mean about reading books more quickly that normal. The tasks also inspire me to clean through my collection and see what fits. Excited for our next task!
You don't have to wait any longer! Here is Task 3:6. Read 4 books with fewer than 500 reviews.
You will find the number of reviews on the main book page under the title, next to the rating. The books you choose need to have under 500 reviews. Please include the number of reviews in your completion post.
I just have to say, you all are the perfect example of why I love team challenges! You have meshed so well for not even knowing each other before and I love all the discussion! 😊
I agree, MKat. I didn't know how this will work and I was quite worried as this is my first challenge. But I am enjoying sharing my review and hearing their opinion. It makes the whole process of reading is so interesting.
Totally second Jans and thank you mkat for putting us all on a team together! 🥳
@Katelyn I too love children added in story. it's so innocent that I read in their innocent voices. I would love to read it. I agree that even I would have loved my disaster book just 5 years back. As for overcoming it by reading a faery story, called "The Cruel Prince". It's definitely good.
Now I ll dig for four books under 500 reviews
@ Kitty : We make an amazing team. I am enjoying this whole process.
I think I am going with
. I read the first book in the series and it was ok.... It was good enough to convince me to add the second to my TBR but it's been slowly going down on my list. Going to give this series one more shot to see what I think.It has 218 reviews.
Oh btw in the main post, mkat confirmed each book can be under 500 reviews. Our four books do not need to add up to under 500 reviews.https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I think I am going to go with
It has 366 reviews. I have the audio and the ebook that way I can alternate between the two. Hopefully I can knock this one out quick!
But as we have learned this week, I suck at sticking to a book! lol There are just too many to choose from.
@Katelyn You are definitely in sports season. Nice. Because I haven't read much of sports.@Hayde I would love to head how Darkfever was. it's in my tbr. Recently I got attached to fays. If it's a good one I will pick that up.
I am a big fan of sports romances. I really like them all which is so funny because the only sport I really watch is hockey. I like sports in YA, New Adult, and Professional Sports (adult). Of course, after a while I do have to switch it up, but I do get to a point where I read a few back to back.
I think you will be a motivation for me to pick a sportsbook. I haven't read much of it. I think I will like it.
Same! I actually went through my tbr books to see if there was a sports romance that qualified but ultimately settled for my current book.
Task 3 Completion PostTask: Read 4 books with fewer than 500 reviews.
Book/cover link: Office Mate
Page numbers with source: 296 Pages Kindle GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Book has under 500 reviews. Currently has 218 reviews.
Date Completed: 9/18/2020
Rating/Review: 3.5 Stars
I'm torn about this book because it was an ok read but the plot was just infuriating to me. The premise is Isabel, a Type A perfectionist and workaholic, got her well deserved promotion given to Thorn who happens to be the son of the company owner who also happens to be the President of the United States. Thorn was forced to leave his post in the army since he was essentially high risk for getting targeted for being the First Son. So instead, he has to return home to his family's investment banking firm and take on the role as Vice President. Poor Isabel is then assigned to assist him in transitioning to his role.
From there, we have an enemies to friends to lovers story. Both characters were fine. The author did a lot to develop their back stories and I can appreciate the slow burn in their relationship. I think my main issue is just the overall plot line.
The nepotism just made me outraged. I do work in the financial services industry so maybe this just hits closer to home but women are disproportionately represented in officer roles. Not only that, the conflict just didn't make any sense.
Spoiler rant below:
(view spoiler)
Overall, it was fine. I think I'm a bit hard on this book because it hits close to home for my industry. Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I might actually just finish up the series and read the final book next because I do really like Ty (a British secret service agent who reads romance novels as research and to understand his competition lol)
Sorry I been MIA. Had a few things on my plate. I agree will y’all, we are a pretty good team! Thanks Mkat for putting us together!Took me a bit to find a book under 500 reviews. The one I had originally selected before the challenge started now has over 500 reviews. 😫 I didn’t really want to start a new series because I already have 3 open series I’m reading right now.
@Jans, yes! You need to read Darkfever, warning it’s a 5 book series. First one focuses mostly on story building and it’s a slow burn romance. I have read reviews that the author does a good job to drop tidbits in the first book that don’t become important unto the last books. I’m excited about that. I love a good world building series! Main reason why I love Harry Potter series.
@Kitty: I understand your pain. Once I read a story, where the heroine would use seven monitors to hack a system, typing through the keyboard in hotspeed. I was like, "What? No, definitely having seven monitors or typing hotspeed isn't a requirement to hack!"Besides, I never read a story where the hero is the son of US president. Isn't it quite a self wish??? And you aren't alone in the boat of punishing yourself. I do that a lot.
@Hayde: Glad that you are back into action. Fays have become my new favourite. Just now, I jumped into Holly Black's, I guess I want more of days. Definitely going into my tbr. I too love amazing world-building. I had to become sick after reading ASOIAF for so many times, to drop reading again. You know what? I have only read one book of HP. I guess I have to pick it up sometime and read.
Task 3 Completion PostTask: Read 4 books with fewer than 500 reviews.
Book/cover link: Signs
Page numbers with source: 198 Pages Kindle GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Book has under 500 reviews. Currently has 271 reviews.
Date Completed: 9/20/2020
Rating/Review: 2.5 Stars
This book had all the write recipes but ended up becoming a disaster dish.
Unique characters, loveable MCs, healthy relationships, hardships in their life growing up, emotional trouble due to not fitting in societal norms, supportive parents, toxic family. Every single amazing characterization is there. But due to the lack of cohesive writing and more telling than showing, the story was so hard for me to finish.
I wanted to DNF many times throughout, as I found the characters are not living with me, rather I found a boring documentary about them, written by themselves.
The story and the book has a meaty concept which is so real to life, only the execution was troublesome. Although, there were moments, at the end of the book when I found the weight of their relationship being properly validated.
So I have a confession...I have never read HP. I definitely wanted to but just never had the time or motivation to pick it up. Maybe I should try during this challenge in between books.@Jans It's always disappointing when a good book premise falls short of expectations. You are a trooper for finishing it!
I used to never DNF a book, but now there are just too many books out there for me to read ones that I don't enjoy. I decided to not finish the one I started the other day. I was not meshing with the writing, but I am loving this one that I started last night. 
I have about 100 pages left, so hopefully I can finish it tonight! Of course, this one involves a single mother of a 4 year old. I just love watching the kids bond with the significant other of the parent.
@Hayde Which book did you end up deciding on?
I ended up reading The One For You I had started the series at the beginning of the year and somehow hadn’t managed to finish it.This is the final book in a series that follows survivors of a high school shooting. This is a very sensitive subject but the author does a phenomenal job addressing it. The stories mostly focus on how the survivors are doing and the impact of the shooting. And keeps flashbacks to the actual shooting to the bear minimal.
I loved how this book realistically address the scars such a traumatic event would have, and that sometimes while trying to survive you hurt others. That the same defense mechanism you built to survive a tragedy might hinder you later on. Technically this point was made in every single book of the series, but I felt the most connected to Ash and Kincaid story. Probably because I’m similar to Ash, I like to run, although I call it needing space.
Aaaanyways going to the fun parts. This book is a friends to enemies to lovers story. Ash and Kincaid used to be best friends in high school. Ash was in love with Kincaid and Kincaid was in love with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was murdered during the shooting and she’s not been in a committed relationship since then. It was nice seeing Ash and Kincaid’s relationship develop. Ash is this nerdy hipster writer who is a shy introvert but stands up for those he lives and he’s bossy in bed. I just loved Ash’s character. He was multidimensional with a lot of baggage but also so much maturity and growth. And his imagination in bed....🙀🔥🙈I will be honest Kincaid was a bit harder to connect to but my the end of the story I loved it. Overall, I recommend this series but I do warn that it will have some sad scenes,
Book/cover link: The One For YouPage numbers with source: Kindle Edition, 352 pages
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Book has under 500 reviews. Currently has 270 reviews.
Date Completed: 9/19/2020
Rating/Review: 5 Stars
Haven’t read HP ?! 😱😱😱 JK I get it. 😉It really is not for everyone? You definitely have to like fantasy and honestly Harry does get a bit annoying when he becomes a teenager. My husband hasn’t read them either. Although he has been forced to attend movie premiers, hear me dissect the movie, comparing it to the book, been forced to watch the movies countless of times, pretty much any time USA has them on, they be playing in the background at home. 🤣 what attracts me to the story is really the world building and the amazing planning that JK Rowling did.
@Jans, ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 👏👏👏 For finishing that book. I’m still trying to finish the Bromance club!! I’m with Katelyn, I used to never DNF a boo, now if I’m not into it by chapter 3, it’s over.
Oh wow Hayde! I am definitely adding that series to my tbr. It sounds like it's worth reading from beginning to end. I haven't dnf a book yet but I definitely have a lot of unfinished series. Maybe that's why I still haven't found time to jump into Harry Potter hahaha. I think part of my worry is the movies are so ingrained in me now and I usually prefer to read the book before the movies so I can sorta imagine it all in my head instead. But I have the series in my Kindle so just need to bite the bullet!
I decided to finally start reading HP as well and did a buddy read with someone at work. I have taken a break though. We have made it through the first 3 books.
Task 3 CompleteTask: Read 4 books with fewer than 500 reviews.
Book - One Hundred Excuses
Page numbers with source: 211 Pages Kindle GR
How book qualified, with links or cover as necessary: Book has under 500 reviews.
Currently has 77 reviews.
Date Completed: 9/19/2020
Rating/Review: 4.5 Stars
This book was cute and I can't wait to read the other ones in this series. Of course, there was a few parts that I feel like could have been left out or was just thrown in and was solved super quickly. Other than that, I loved this story. It had another child in the story, which just made the story even better. I loved being able to see the daughter warm up to Aiden.
We are moving right along. I love how quickly I am knocking books off of my TBR.
Aww the book you picked Katelyn seems really cute! I love small town stories with children too. Do you think you will start from the beginning of the series?Also, I think we are doing good on our task! Maybe we will get another task tonight but probably more so tomorrow?
Hayde must be like how did I get stuck on a team where no one read Harry Potter hahaha 🙈
I think I may, but I currently only own 2 of them that I have gotten for free. That is why I started where I did. I am horrible at reading series because I just jump into random books depending what my mood is at that time.
Hahaha, no that’s good. You all will force me to expand my reading repertoire. I’m already looking forward to a sports book!
Here is Task 4:12. Read a book recommended to you by a teammate - no pass for this task.
You can do the recommendations however you wish - to the group, to each individual, to the person below you on the list or ?? - it's up to you. If you want to provide a specific shelf to pick from, it needs to have a minimum of 10 books on it.
New task! So just a reminder Katelyn had actually put together her recommendations list in an earlier post. Reposting her link for everyone. I propose we just each post a few books as general recommendations and we can just pick from the options instead of doing individual recommendations for everyone. Katelyn's Recommendations
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Kitty's Recommendations:
Single dad office romance (free on Amazon right now): King of Wall Street
YA (free on Amazon right now): The Deal
Rom com with one of my favorite child characters (on KU): Troublemaker
Sports Romance (hockey): A Favor for a Favor
Emotional backstory novella to one of my favorite books: Mind Games
Fantasy medieval romance: The Winter KingMortal girl in Faeries land: The Cruel Prince
Bad boy and a good girl romacne: Vicious
love/hurt romance: Breaking Him
@Jans I think I am going to read outside my comfort zone and read The Cruel Prince that you recommended! Turns out I already had the book in my collection. 😬
@Kitty: You wouldn't regret it. It is epic, although there is a bit of world building but I guess its part of the fun reading. I am so confused to choose what to read, because you guys have provided a lot of awesome options. I am choosing the first one King of Wall Street free in kindle. I guess I will slowly start picking all the books you guys listed for rest of the tasks too.@Hayde: I am putting The One For You into the tbr. I rivel in layered characters(tragic ones too) and definitely secret crush is a great mix.
For me HP, was as Kitty had put it -- I indulged too much on movies series that my imaginations are quite stunted. A few of my friends grew up with HP, but I didn't, at that time, I was in small village and the bookstore I went never sold English story books. lol... I only owned thousand arabian nights, and some silly small times stories. i need to pick HP and indulge.
So much glad to know Kat and Kitty are on the same boat as me. I feel so belonged here because every single person asks this question and sometimes I hide from people that I haven't read HP. :)
@Katelyn: "Aiden" name makes me happy. Zapata's Winnepeg comes to my mind. I know I should follow your formula and quit reading boring books, but I am bit amateur now, like I am so thirsty of reading all I get my hands on. Perhaps, in 50 more books I am going to fill my trash more, and learn to tell "no" and stop hurting myself.
I think I am going to read Troublemaker.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Thanks Kitty.
I too finished my book. Will update the review.