Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2022 Challenge Archive
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2022 January 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!
2022 January PIFM Challenge - Picking RulesThe New Year is right around the corner, and most people have definite traditions that they try to follow. These traditions vary widely around the world. Here's a look at a few of them...maybe you can find something new you'd like to try!
New Year's Celebrations Around the World
Spain – In Spain, locals will eat exactly 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight to honor a tradition that started in the late 19th century. Back in the 1800s, vine growers in the Alicante area came up with this tradition as a means of selling more grapes toward the end of the year, but the sweet celebration quickly caught on. Today, Spaniards enjoy eating one grape for each of the first 12 bell strikes after midnight in the hopes that this will bring about a year of good fortune and prosperity.
🥂 Recommend a book set in Spain, OR a book with a storyline or character connected to the Food industry, OR with a round object on the cover.
Scotland – In Scotland, the day before January 1 is so important that there's even an official name for it: Hogmanay. On this day, the Scottish observe many traditions, but easily one of their most famous is first footing. According to Scottish beliefs, the first person who crosses through the threshold of your house after midnight on New Year's Day should be a dark-haired male if you wish to have good luck in the coming year. Traditionally, these men come bearing gifts of coal, salt, shortbread, and whiskey, all of which further contribute to the idea of having good fortune.
🥳 Recommend a book set in the UK, or with a dark haired man on cover
Brazil – If you happen to be in Brazil for New Year's Eve, don't be surprised to find the oceans littered with white flowers and candles. In the South American country, it is commonplace for citizens to take to the shores on New Year's Eve in order to make offerings to Yemoja, a major water deity who is said to control the seas, to elicit her blessings for the year to come.
🥂 Recommend a book set in Brazil, or with a mostly white cover or flowers on cover
Italy – Italians have a tradition of wearing red underwear to ring in the new year. In Italian culture, the color red is associated with fertility, and so people wear it under their clothes in the hopes that it will help them conceive in the coming year.
🥳 Recommend a book set in Italy, OR with a partially unclothed cover model, OR with a pregnancy or child in the story.
Denmark – In Denmark, people take pride in the number of broken dishes outside of their door by the end of New Year's Eve. It's a Danish tradition to throw china at your friends' and neighbors' front doors on New Year's Eve—some say it's a means of leaving any aggression and ill-will behind before the New Year begins—and it is said that the bigger your pile of broken dishes, the more friends you have and the more luck you will have in the upcoming year.
🥂 Recommend a book set in a Nordic country (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland), OR a friends to lovers storyline OR with a close group of friends in storyline.
Russia – In Russian culture, it is New Year's Eve tradition for folks to write their wishes down on a piece of paper, burn them with a candle, and drink the subsequent ashes in a glass of champagne.
🥳 Recommend a book set in Russia, or with a flame or other light source or the colors yellow or orange on the cover, OR with a word/words in the title or series name that indicate(s) heat or fire.
Colombia –In Colombia, people take empty suitcases and run around the block as fast as they can. It's supposed to guarantee a year filled with travel.
🥂 Recommend a book set in Colombia, or that includes a road trip or other travel, or that is set in a country other than your own.
South Africa: Some South Africans—particularly those in the neighborhood of Hillbrow in Johannesburg— take cleaning house for the new year to an entirely new level. Throwing old furniture and appliances (think fridges!) from the windows of tall buildings somehow helps to make the new year bright. It’s actually a very serious health hazard there!
🥳 Recommend a book set in Africa, or that has some sort of furniture on cover, or with a character that is suffering (or recovering) from an illness or injury.
Happy Reading!
2022 January PIFM Challenge - PairingsPlease pick for the person beneath you. The last person picks for the first person, so Lauryn picks for Chris.
Remember to pick a minimum of 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, since sometimes too many choices can be as bad as too few!
✔ indicates picks have been made
Updated through msg #72
✔Chris
✔LaurLa - 04-pick-me-please
✔Alyhs
✔Sonja - PIFM
✔Romanticbookworm - pick-for-me
✔Holly
✔Iliana
✔Nancy H
✔Fran - a-pifm-shelf
✔☘KathyD☘ - tbr-audios
✔MountainKat - to-read-asap
✔Sassafrass - 2022-jan-pifm
✔Carina - bookshelved
✔Hinal
✔Samantha - pick-for-me
✔Jamie - challenge-shelf
✔Apoorva
Heddy
RaeRae
Lauryn
2nd Group:
✔Maddielucy(Patti)
✔Rachel
Sabrina
Billy
Repicks:
Sonja picks for Chris
Chris picks for Maddielucy(Patti)
**
Hi everyone! We're looking for volunteers to host our monthly challenges for the next several months. If you would like to help out and have been a member of the group for at least 6 months and have participated in the PIFM Challenge at least twice, please contact ~KarenH~ via PM to get things set up. Thanks!
i'm in! tbr-audiosi like to celebrate new year's by staying awake until midnight...sadly, it doesn't happen as often as it used to! ;)
I'm in. I like to celebrate at home with family and friends, laughing and having a good time.
I'm in! (private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)I usually like to celebrate by going out to dinner with a small group of friends and our kids (whichever of our grown kids are home at that time). Hopefully next year we can get back to that!
PIFM Shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I'm in too! I prefer to be home with family. The kids are getting old enough to stay up to midnight so we're having more fun celebrating with them. We usually watch a movie or two until midnight then ring it in with champagne for the adults and sparkling cider for the kids. We traditionally include 10 green grapes in the glass for good luck! Please use my PIFM shelf.
Hi I'm inI traditionally bring in new years at home watching it on TV.
Please use my PIFM shelf.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I'm in! I love to get out with friends till midnight just stroll around the city and eat favorite foods!
I'm in ! this year, I'm going to be asleep!
(and I hope the baby too)
use my to read self.
It's a tradition that I take a nap until 11:50 pm, then I get up, turn on Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, crack open the champagne for me and hubby and sparkling cider for the kids and we watch the ball drop, SCREAM HAPPY NEW YEAR and toast.Then, I promptly go back to sleep. 😂😂😂
Please use my 2022-jan-pifm shelf
My favorite way to celebrate the New Year is at home in my jammies! I also don't mind celebrating a New York New Years - which is at 9 Pacific time! 😉Please use my to-read-asap shelf - thanks!
I'm in please! My favorite way to celebrate is dinner with family and/or friends and watching all the countdown shows.04-pick-me-please
I'm in. My favorite way is to watch movies with the family until 11:30 and then turn on the performances at Time Square until the ball drops. Usually go right to sleep afterwards.
I would love to join! My favorite way to celebrate New Years is at home with my family.My Challenge Shelf
I would love to participate so please be nice this would be my first one. I love to celebrate The New Years with my bestie and just have a movie marathon of this year’s favorite movie to come out.
I think this should bring you to my pick me shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I’m in! I like to celebrate at home with my family, but it’s getting harder to stay awake until midnight. 😉
I would love it join! My favorite way to celebrate New Years is with my dog storm !
I'm in! My favorite way to celebrate New Year's day is to have a big dinner with my family and stay awake till midnight reading one last book or watching one last show of the year :D
I would love to try this one. My plans for ringing in the New Year won't be much this year since I am on call at the hospital. that is ok though since I will be traveling to see my son in a few weeks.
I am in all the way. Ready to start this new year with a bang.
Signups are closed! I'll be back shortly with the pairings and rules.
Ok everyone! The picking rules are posted in msg #4 and the pairings in msg #5. Enjoy!
Hi KathyD!!Here are your picks for January. I hope you find something you love in the New Year!! Happy Reading!!
Spain –
TBR- Code Name: Heist- round 'o' on cover
NEW- Boyfriend- food for Thanksgiving
Scotland –
TBR- Keeping Lily- dark hair on cover
NEW- Times Square- dark hair on cover
Brazil –
TBR- Forever Pucked- white on cover
NEW- Dating the Player- white on cover
Italy –
TBR- The Governess Game- unclothed man
NEW- Can You Handle It?- unclothed man
Denmark –
TBR- Clam Jam- friends-lovers
NEW- Fire at Dawn- friends-lovers
Russia –
TBR- Flirting with Fire- 'fire' in title and yellow/orange cover
NEW- Power Play- 'fiery' couple
Colombia –
TBR- The Gravedigger’s Son- travel in story
NEW- The Matchmaker and the Marquess- set in England (not the country I live in)
South Africa-
TBR- Forget About Me- injury in story
NEW- Call Me Maybe- furniture on cover
Happy New Year Kathy!!
Sabrina wrote: "I’m in if it’s not too late!"Hi Sabrina,
I can add you in at the end of the picking period.
Hey NancyHHope you enjoy these picks!
Spain:
A Sweet Mess (new, food/chef)
A Pizza To Die For (tbr, food/chef)
Scotland:
Dear Laura (tbr, set in UK)
Brazil:
Angel Falls (new, set in Brazil)
Italy:
Unbreak My Heart (new, children/pregnancy)
Denmark:
Well Matched (tbr, friends to lovers)
Russia:
In Sheep's Clothing (new, set in Russia)
Colombia:
Just Haven't Met You Yet (tbr, MCs travel)
South Africa:
Best Laid Plans (new, set in Africa)
Laurla I hope you like some of the picks! Many of the books I was going to suggest you have already read them :)Spain:
NEW: The Holiday Swap (food/ round object)
TBR: California Wine (food)
Scotland:
NEW: My Fake Christmas Fiancé (dark haired man)
TBR: Touch Me And Tango (dark haired man)
Brazil:
NEW: Nanny I Want to Mate (mostly white)
TBR: Meant to Be Yours (flowers)
Italy:
NEW: Dirty English (unclothed model)
TBR: Sex Machine (unclothed model)
Denmark:
NEW: Him (friends-to-lovers)
TBR: You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation (close group of friends)
Russia :
NEW: Prisoner (yellow)
TBR: Riley Thorn and the Dead Guy Next Door (yellow cover)
Colombia:
NEW: Punk 57 (other country)
TBR: What a Cowgirl Wants (other country)
South Africa:
NEW: Crashed (injury)
TBR: It Had to Be Them (health troubles)
Alyhs - I have not forgotten you! I will have picks this weekend for you 😊
Chris wrote: "Laurla I hope you like some of the picks! Many of the books I was going to suggest you have already read them :)Spain:
NEW: The Holiday Swap (food/ round object)
TBR: [book:Califo..."
Thanks, Chris! These look great - I'll dive deeper into the new picks later this weekend but I'm sure I'll find one new one to love!
Hi Carina! Happy New Year! Here are your picks. I hope these picks give you some reads to start your new your off right! Let me know if there are any issues.Spain:
[TBR] Cold Ridge (circle - moon on cover)
[TBR] The Inn at Eagle Point (runs and inn - food is there)
Scotland:
[TBR] The Duke and I (set in UK)
[TBR] His Texas Wildflower (dark haired man on cover)
Brazil:
[TBR] Alaska Secrets (mostly white cover - well all the snow is white)
[TBR] Unspoken (mostly white cover)
Italy:
[TBR] The Nanny's Double Trouble (children in story)
[TBR] Not Quite Married (pregnancy)
Denmark:
[NEW] Twist of Fate (friends to lovers)
[NEW] Love Me By Christmas (friends to lovers)
Russia:
[TBR] The Hidden Oracle (fire on cover)
[NEW] The Cinderella Deal (orange on cover)
Colombia:
[NEW] My One and Only (road trip)
[TBR] Amish Hideout (technically not a different country but they live so differently than I do in Amish country it may as well be a different country)
South Africa:
[TBR] One More Night (tables on cover)
[TBR] The Sweethearts' Knitting Club (chair on cover)
Karen, I can pick for Sabrina if you wish.
Hi Apoorva! Hope you enjoy your picks this month.Spain
New - My Foolish Heart by Bella Michaels (connected to food industry)
TBR - Under Currents by Nora Roberts (circle - sun on cover)
Scotland
New - Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (set in Scotland)
TBR - The Road Trip by Beth O'Leary (set in Scotland)
Brazil
New - A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire by Jennifer L. Armentrout (mostly white cover)
TBR - The Cruel Prince by Holly Beck (mostly white cover)
Italy
New - Hawk by Kat Savage (child in story)
TBR - The Legacy by Elle Kennedy (partially unclothed cover model)
Denmark
New - My Always One by Aleatha Romig (friends-to-lovers)
TBR - Before We Were Strangers by Renee Carlino (friends-to-lovers)
Russia
New - Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (word fire in title)
TBR - The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (yellow cover)
Columbia
New - Command Me by Geneva Lee (set in country other than your own)
TBR - The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (set in country other than your own)
South Africa
New - Dark Lover by J.R. Ward (MC is suffering w/eyesight loss)
TBR - The Roommate by Rosie Danan (furniture on cover - couch)
Hi Fran, I have a houseful of company so this has taken a while, but I think I found some you might like. If you need more or different choices, please let me know - there were lots on your TBR that look great!
Spain: Two from the food industry (and both were great!) - A Summer Escape and Strawberry Cake at the Cosy Kettle and Kiss My Cupcake
...
Scotland: Set in UK - This Could Change Everything; Dark-haired man - A Soldier's Christmas
Brazil: Mostly white cover = First Dance; Flowers - Continental Beginnings
Italy: Partially unclothed - Can You Handle It?; child in story - What Child Is This?
Denmark: Set in Iceland - The Northern Lights Lodge; Friends to lovers - The Rules of Friends with Benefits
Russia: Flames, and orange and yellow - Last Minion Standing; Heat/fire - Can't Stand the Heat
Colombia: Road trip/travel/other country - Paris A to Z and Meet Me in Paradise
South Africa: Furniture (a couch or bed) - Beyond Love and Hate; recovering from injury - How to Walk Away (This is one of my all-time favorite books!)
Happy Reading!
Hi Iliana, Thank you. These look great. Now which one to start with, since I just want to read them all!
Iliana wrote: "Hey NancyH
Hope you enjoy these picks!
Spain:
A Sweet Mess (new, food/chef)
A Pizza To Die For (tbr, food/chef)
Scotland:
Dear Laura (tbr, set in UK..."
Nancy H wrote: "Hi Fran, I have a houseful of company so this has taken a while, but I think I found some you might like. If you need more or different choices, please let me know - there were lots on your TBR t..."
Thanks so much Nancy for the great picks! I can’t wait to get started! So many tempting titles 😁
Hi, I'm in if its not too late. My TBR shelf is below. I usually just watch the ball drop every New Years. I think that New Years day I have to work. https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Hi RomanticBookWorm! I get to pick for you again! No your eyes are not deceiving you, I did renew a couple of my picks from December! Hashtag sorry not sorry! Hopefully you find some good ones this month! 🥂 Spain
TBR: Second Thyme Around (food industry)
NEW: Geekerella (food/round object – tires!) Yeah, I recommended this to you last month, but I couldn’t help wanting his one back on your TBR!
🥳 Scotland
TBR: The Duke Wears a Kilt (UK setting) I’m reading this one in January too, buddy read maybe?
TBR: Protect Me (dark-haired man on cover)
🥂 Brazil
TBR: A Ruin of Roses (flower on cover)
NEW: This Time Next Year (white cover) I know I recommended this one before, but I really enjoyed reading it last January and hope you’ll give it a try!
🥳 Italy
TBR: Kings of Chaos (partially unclothed cover models)
NEW: Breathing Room (set in Italy) Read this for December, recommended by Nihdi, really good!
🥂 Denmark
TBR: A Darkness of Dragons (group of friends) sounds interesting!
NEW: The Warlord's Wife (Nordic Country) Surprised how much I really loved this whole series. Can’t remember if I’ve ever recommended it to you before, but it’s not on your TBR so it counts!
🥳 Russia
TBR: A Holiday by Gaslight (light source! And sounds good!)
TBR: Last Light (yellow on cover) Adding this to my TBR too!
🥂 Colombia
TBR: Lady and the Scot (travel/country other than my own)
NEW: The Alice Network (travel/country other than my own) I know I recommended this already, but bumping this back to you!
🥳 South Africa
TBR: Blood Consort (furniture on cover)
NEW: Romancing the Duke (recovering from injury) One of my favorite T.D. books!
Happy New Year and happy reading!
Thank you Alyhs for the great picks! Hope I can do them justice in January!Fran I can help with repicks if you need them!
Chris wrote: "Karen, I can pick for Sabrina if you wish."Thanks Chris, but we now have two late arrivals so I'm thinking I'll have them pick for each other. I appreciate the offer, and will keep you in mind for repicks if that's ok with you!
Alyhs!! Hope you enjoy some of these!!Spain
TBR: The Spanish Love Deception - set in Spain (it's like you knew…)
NEW: The Sweetest Fix - mc is baker
Scotland
TBR: Scandal Above Stairs - UK - I love this series!
NEW: Much Ado About You - set in UK
Brazil
TBR: Beautiful Mistake - mostly white cover
NEW: Settling the Score - set in Brazil
Italy
TBR: The Nanny's Double Trouble - child in story
NEW: Getting Schooled - partially unclothed
Denmark
TBR: The Little Café in Copenhagen - set in Denmark (it's like you knew…)
NEW: Naughty in Norway - set in Norway
Russia
TBR: On the Rocks - yellow on cover
NEW: The Soulmate Equation - yellow cover
Colombia
TBR: Playboy Pilot - travel
NEW: My Favorite Souvenir - road trip
South Africa
TBR: Tangled - bed-furniture
NEW: Fighting Silence - mc is losing hearing
Hinal,Here are your picks! Happy reading!
Spain
TBR - Kiss My Cupcake
Scotland
TBR - Lord of London Town
New - Come Back for Me
Brazil
TBR - Hush Hush
New - You Can Have Manhattan
Italy
TBR - Rookie Move
TBR - Alex
Denmark
TBR - The Fill-In Boyfriend
TBR - She's With Me
Russia
TBR - Landon & Shay: Part One
New - Waiting for the Sun
Columbia
TBR - Love & Gelato
New - Kisses and Croissants
South Africa
TBR - Be with Me
New - Would Like to Meet
Hi, Samantha Here are your picks! Hope you have great reading month and find some new favorites !!
Spain
New- Bittersweet - Food industry
New - Marriage for One- Food industry
Scotland
Tbr- The Heir - Dark haired man
Tbr-Flirting with Fire- Dark haired man
Brazil
New- Stay with Me - white cover
Tbr- Addicted to You- White cover
Italy
Tbr-The Deal -partially unclothed man
New- The Governess Game[book:Irresistibly Yours|36111620]-child in story
Denmark
Tbr-Lessons in Corruption - close group of friends
New-After the Kiss- Close group of friends
Russia
Tbr-Beach Read- yellow or orange cover
New- The Fire Between High & Lo - Fire in title
Colombia
Tbr-The Road Trip - travel/ road trip in story
Tbr- People We Meet on Vacation - travel / road trip in story
South Africa
Tbr- The Heart Principle - character suffer illness
Hi! I know that I am late to signups but I hope I can still join.
I love to take in the New Year spending time with family playing games and having good conversations about what the next year will look like for everyone.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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Amy E. Reichert (other topics)
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Katy Birchall (other topics)
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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:
✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick! ✱✱
IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until December 23 - 11 pm US EST.
You’ll have until December 30 - 11 pm US EST 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!✱