Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2021 Challenge Archive
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2021 November 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!
PairingsSlightly edited (Just the last person)
Pick for the person below you. If you are the last person on the list (Reed) you choose for the first person (☘KathyD☘).
⭐☘KathyD☘ - c-m-g 48
⭐Carina - bookshelved
⭐Courtney - romance
⭐MountainKat - to read asap
⭐Romanticbookworm - pick for me
⭐Chris - want to read
⭐Fran (Private Profile) - PIFM shelf
⭐Romance Queen - want to read
⭐☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - pick for me
⭐Mary-Megan - PIFM
⭐Nancy H - want to read
⭐Laurla - 04-pick-me-please
⭐Apoorva - mng-shelf
⭐Sonja - pifm
Reed (Private Profie)
Picking RulesLet’s take a look at some of the delicious national days this month:
November 2 - Deviled Egg day
Recommend a book that either:
Is labeled Paranormal or Supernatural or
Features a devilish or mischievous character or
Has a cover with yellow and white on it
November 4 - Men Make Dinner Day
Recommend a book that either:
Has food on the cover or
Features a character that works in the food industry or
Has just a man on the cover
November 6 - Nacho Day
Recommend a book that either:
Takes place somewhere in Central or South America or
Is spicy (up for interpretation - heat level, spicy character, etc) or
Has two people on the cover
November 10 - Vanilla Cupcake Day
Recommend a book that either:
Is a sweet romance or
Is labeled contemporary or
Has just a woman on the cover
November 16 - Fast Food Day
Recommend a book that either:
Is labeled Thriller or Suspense or
You consider a fast read or
Is under 250 pages
November 17 - Homemade Bread Day
Recommend a book that either:
Is labeled Historical or
Features a character that works with his/her hands (carpenter, mechanic, surgeon, etc) or
Features a parent or grandparent
November 25 - Parfait Day
Recommend a book that either:
Has a dual timeline or
Has more than one narrator or point of view (for example: some sections follow FMC other follow MMC) or
Has a colorful cover (at least 3 different colors),
November 28 - French Toast Day
Recommend a book that either:
Takes place in another country or
Features a group of friends or a large family or
Has a cover that is mostly one color
The November I am looking forward to my trip to Disneyland - it's been two years since I've been there or on a plane anywhere, so I'm super excited :)Please use: PIFM
I'm in! (private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me) November makes me think of cooler weather, less daylight, hot chocolate and eating, lol. No travel planned for this month but hopefully in the winter.
Mary-Megan, enjoy Disneyworld!! Sounds like so much fun!
PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
So jealous Mary-Megan!! I hope to plan a trip there in late winter or early spring, but until then I will just enjoy my usual Happy Place! I'm also in and looking forward to getting my kitchen finished!! New cooktop led to new counters. New counters will lead to a new sink. All of those are very good things, if we could just ever decide on the material for the countertops!
Please use my to-read-asap shelf - thanks!
I'm looking forward to a quieter month - the last 6 weeks or so have been a bit crazy for me with caring for my mother who fell in September and has been in the hospital for most of October. She's on the mend now and I'm looking forward to my routines getting back, well close to getting back to normal!04-pick-me-please
Laurla - I'm so glad to hear your mom is on the mend!MountainKat - a new kitchen is super exciting. Good luck with the countertop decision.
I’m in! Looking forward to spending time with family and putting up the Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving.Use https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
You convinced me! I'm in. November reminds me of when feel-good holiday movies start rolling in. I'm a cynical person but October's been a tough month, so I need all the feel-good I can get. 😊
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I am looking forward to more time to read due Colder weather , hot chocolate despite having to walk the dog lol.Please use my PIFM shelf
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Gaah! November already?! Well I'm always looking forward to turkey and pumpkin pie, but also my husband crosses the 50 line on Thanksgiving USA and I'm gleefully looking forward to hanging stuffed buzzards around the house! :D (It's payback for my last milestone birthday.... so don't feel bad for him!)
Please use my PIFM shelf, once I get it updated!
I hope that November will be a busy month! (Work-wise) All the ppl shopping for the holidays! I can't wait! Use my "to-read" self.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Mary-Megan! Just caught up and how exciting! Are you doing DL or DW? CA or FL? If it’s CA, wave when you fly over me! We went in July and had a blast but I wanna go for Christmas deco time! Have fun! LaurLa!! Glad your mom is on the mend and really praying you get that much-deserved return to normal!
Courtney, when have you ever needed convincing to play PIFM?! 🤣🤣
Sonja - I'm going to Disneyland (CA). The transition to the Christmas decor actually starts while we're there. Our first day at the park is pre-holiday and our last two days are when it officially starts.
Sonja wrote: "Courtney, when have you ever needed convincing to play PIFM?! 🤣🤣"OMG! You know me too well! 😳😳
🤣🤣
I am looking forward to having a calmer November. My last two months have been crazy with doing things for other people and for volunteer groups. I have somehow not internalized being retired (!) and it seems like I am still going full speed ahead! I hope to have more time to work on my family history writing project in November, and especially, more time to read!!
Mary-Megan wrote: "Sonja - I'm going to Disneyland (CA). The transition to the Christmas decor actually starts while we're there. Our first day at the park is pre-holiday and our last two days are when it officially ..."Most, if not all of the decorations will be up, but the parades and holidays shows don't start until the official beginning of the season. There are so many fabulous things to see during the holiday season - lighting the castle, snow on Main Street, the lighting and show at Small World, and the holiday fireworks are always spectacular, especially if you can see the castle projections. Christmas is my favorite holiday and Christmas at Disney is extra special!!
If I am guessing your days correctly, we will almost but not quite cross paths!
MountainKat wrote: "If I am guessing your days correctly, we will almost but not quite cross paths! ..."That's awesome! If we had done Disney World, we would have had a two day overlap with my one friend, but we voted for California - a few less people to contend with on our first big trip since the start of Covid.
Mary-Megan wrote: "MountainKat wrote: "If I am guessing your days correctly, we will almost but not quite cross paths! ..."That's awesome! If we had done Disney World, we would have had a two day overlap with my on..."
And that is typically a good time to go - before the holidays really get rocking. Not that anything has been typical lately, October was really busy. I guess schools in the states around us get a 'fall break' in October? 🤷🏻♀️ That's new to me, but even during the week it was busier than I expected.
Reed wrote: "ᗯᕼᗩT ᗩᗷOᑌT ᗰE ?"Are you joining the challenge? Do you have a list of books for us to choose from or questions about the challenge? The first two posts explain the expectations.
I'm in.Picking shelf - Link
I'm looking forward to having fewer deadlines and more fun due to Diwali falling in November!
Pairings and rules posted! You have until Saturday, October 30 (8 pm US CST) to get your picks posted.
Nancy HHere are my picks for you. You have so much on your list and such variety, so I stuck with books that I know and have enjoyed (all except for two books from your TBR list). I hope you like whatever you choose to read.
November 2 - Deviled Egg day
TBR - Blue Dahlia
New: The Drowning Kind
November 4 - Men Make Dinner Day
TBR - The Sweetest Things
New: Killing Time
November 6 - Nacho Day
TBR - The Fireman Who Loved Me
New: First Time in Forever
November 10 - Vanilla Cupcake Day
TBR - Meet Me in Monaco
New: The Bromance Book Club
November 16 - Fast Food Day
TBR - Killing Floor
New: Hearts of the Missing
November 17 - Homemade Bread Day
TBR - Treacherous Is the Night
New: Red Sky Over Hawaii
November 25 - Parfait Day
TBR - Sarah's Key
New: The Rose Code
November 28 - French Toast Day
TBR - Murder List
New: Close Your Eyes
Hi Fran! I hope you like some of the picks! November 2 - Deviled Egg day
TBR:- Dandelion Season (Paranormal)
NEW: - Visions of Heat (Paranormal)
November 4 - Men Make Dinner Day
TBR - Forbidden (Man On The Cover)
NEW - Murder By Chocolate (Food On The Cover)
November 6 - Nacho Day
TBR: - Kiss the Girl (Two PPL On The Cover)
NEW: - Boss I Love to Hate (Two PPL On The Cover)
November 10 - Vanilla Cupcake Day
TBR: - Wedding Cake Crasher (Contemporary)
NEW: - Fresh Catch (Contemporary)
November 16 - Fast Food Day
TBR: - Catch Me (98 Pages)
NEW: - Prisoner (Suspense)
November 17 - Homemade Bread Day
TBR: - I Need You For Christmas (Sculptor)
NEW: - Mine (Anesthesiologist)
November 25 - Parfait Day
TBR: - Winning Back His Wife (Colorful Cover)
NEW: - Spite Club (Colorful Cover)
November 28 - French Toast Day
TBR: - Obsession (Black Cover)
NEW: - Defying the Boss (Red Cover)
Reed wrote: "I'ᗰ ᑎOT Oᑎ TᕼE ᒪIᔕT ᗯᕼY Iᔕ TᕼᗩT?"You were not on the list because I was not sure what your post of "ᗯᕼᗩT ᗩᗷOᑌT ᗰE ?" meant as it didn't clarify you were in the challenge or respond to the topic of "Just share what you're looking forward to this month." I asked you to clarify and share a list, but you never replied.
I will add you to the list now. You will need to accept a friend request because your profile is private and you need at list a Want to Read list of books for the person to select from.
Can i have some help making my profile not private please ? i don't know how to do that
Hi Romance Queen!Here are your picks for November- I hope you find something you love here!
Please feel free to use the series rule for any title I have recommended - all of the new titles that are part of a series can be read as stand-alone but if you prefer to start at the beginning of the series please do!
November 2 - Deviled Egg day- PNR
TBR:- Lair of the Lion
NEW: - Desperate Measures
November 4 - Men Make Dinner Day- 1 man on cover
TBR - The Deal
NEW - Trust Fund
November 6 - Nacho Day- 2 on cover
TBR: - Fixed on You
NEW: - Waiting for You
November 10 - Vanilla Cupcake Day- 1 woman on cover
TBR: - On the Island
November 16 - Fast Food Day
NEW: - The Governess Affair- 152 pages
NEW: - Hyde- suspense
November 17 - Homemade Bread Day- works with their hands
TBR: - Honk If You Love Real Men
NEW: - Play with Me
November 25 - Parfait Day
NEW: - Boss Man Bridegroom- colorful cover
November 28 - French Toast Day
TBR: Vampire Academy- group of friends
NEW: The Good Luck Sister- family
Happy Reading!
Hi Carina...here are your picks for November. I hope you find some great reads!🥚 November 2 – Deviled Egg Day
Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard — tagged paranormal (tbr)
Year One, Nora Roberts — tagged paranormal (new)
👨🍳 November 4 – Men Make Dinner Day
Sheltered by the Cowboy, Carla Cassidy — just one man on the cover (tbr)
Wrong, Jana Aston — main character works at a cafe (new)
🌮 November 6 – Nacho Day
The Darkest Hour, Maya Banks — partially set in Central and South America (tbr)
Dark Lover, J.R. Ward — spicy read (new)
🧁 November 10 – Vanilla Cupcake Day
Hidden, Rebecca Zanetti — just one woman on the cover (tbr)
Come Away with Me, Kristen Proby — sweet romance/tagged contemporary (new)
🍟 November 16 – Fast Food Day
Dead Girl Running, Christina Dodd — tagged suspense/thriller (tbr)
Protecting Caroline, Susan Stoker — fast read (new)
🍞 November 17 – Homemade Bread Day
The Baby and the Cowboy SEAL, Laura Marie Altom — features a parent (tbr)
Wait With Me, Amy Daws — main character is a mechanic (new)
🍨 November 25 – Parfait Day
Cold Ridge, Carla Neggers — colorful cover (tbr)
Challenge, Amy Daws — more than one narrator (new)
🥞 November 28 – French Toast Day
The Mourning Hours, Paula Treick DeBoard — cover mostly one color (tbr)
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Jennifer Ashley — set in England/Scotland (new)
Reed wrote: "Can i have some help making my profile not private please ? i don't know how to do that"If you want to keep it private, that's fine. You should send a friend request to Sonja who is picking for you so she can see your profile.
If you want to make it public, click on your profile. Then, next to your name is a link to (edit profile). Click that and then there is a tab for settings. Privacy settings are under that tab.
You can also find the account settings option when you hover over your profile picture in the top corner of any page.
Chris wrote: "Hi Fran! I hope you like some of the picks! November 2 - Deviled Egg day
TBR:- Dandelion Season (Paranormal)
NEW: - Visions of Heat (Paranormal)
November 4 - Men ..."
Hi Chris!
Thank you so much for picking for me again this month and for the great picks! I see lots of awesome choices for November :)
Mary-Megan I'll get your pick done soon. I'm currently under the weather.
*KathyD!* Excited to pick for you this month! It's been a while since I've browsed your TBR list! :) I'll work on your picks today or tomorrow and get them posted!
Romanticbookworm, I'm working on your picks but likely won't get them posted until later in the week.
Hi LaurLa,I am exhausted tonightn and don't want to do a bad job, but I will get your picks up for you tomorrow.
Thanks for your patience.
Mary-Megan, These look great! Thank you so much. I am going to have trouble deciding which one (or ones!) to start with. I will let you know what I choose.
Mary-Megan wrote: "Nancy H
Here are my picks for you. You have so much on your list and such variety, so I stuck with books that I know and have enjoyed (all except for two books from your TBR list). I hope you like ..."
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Mary-Megan I'll get your pick done soon. I'm currently under the weather."No rush - I hope you feel better!
Sonja wrote: "*KathyD!* Excited to pick for you this month! It's been a while since I've browsed your TBR list! :) I'll work on your picks today or tomorrow and get them posted!"Sonja - there's been a change - someone was added to the list. You are picking for Reed. I thought since you hadn't commented on anything yet you would have seen the pairing but you must have checked in earlier.
Mary-Megan wrote: "☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ wrote: "Mary-Megan I'll get your pick done soon. I'm currently under the weather."No rush - I hope you feel better!"
Thanks, it been quite a challenge :/ I'm going to try and work on it now while I'm functional ;-)
Mary-Megan here are my picks for you. Happy reading!November 2 - Deviled Egg day
New: Existence - Is labeled Paranormal or Supernatural
TBR: Beach Read - Has a cover with yellow and white on it
November 4 - Men Make Dinner Day
New: Seduction and Snacks - features a character that works in the food industry
TBR: Fierce at Heart -Has just a man on the cover
November 6 - Nacho Day
New: One Hot Italian Summer - Is spicy (spicy character)
TBR: Dinner For Two - Has two people on the cover
November 10 - Vanilla Cupcake Day
New: How to Walk Away - Is labeled contemporary
TBR: Wife After Wife - Has just a woman on the cover
November 16 - Fast Food Day
New: The Good Lie - Is labeled Thriller or Suspense
TBR: Daisy Does It All - Is under 250 pages
November 17 - Homemade Bread Day
TBR: Treacherous Is the Night - Is labeled Historical
New: Futures and Frosting - Features a parent or grandparent
November 25 - Parfait Day
TBR: One Snowy Night - Has a colorful cover (at least 3 different colors)
New: Roommaid - - Has a colorful cover (at least 3 different colors)
November 28 - French Toast Day
New: The Island - Takes place in another country
TBR: The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen - Has a cover that is mostly one color
Romance wrote: "Carmen the Booty Shaker LOL I got so excited when I saw that I get to pick for you!!!November 2 - Deviled Egg day
Eidolon (Wraith Kings, #2) by Draven, GraceNovemb..."
Hi Romance. Thanks for the picks and glad you got to pick for me :D
Nancy H wrote: "Hi LaurLa,I am exhausted tonightn and don't want to do a bad job, but I will get your picks up for you tomorrow.
Thanks for your patience."
Thanks Nancy! I did some major renovations on my picking list - hopefully I got them done before you started your picking! If not, no worries! I'm sure I'll love them no matter what!
Apoorva - I will try to have your picks tomorrow!
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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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:
✱✱ No sorting question. Just share what you're looking forward to this month. ✱✱
✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick! ✱✱
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until October 25 ( 8pm US CST)
You’ll have until October 30 (8 pm US CST) 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!✱