Introduce Yourself to the Group - 2023

[Ilona]

Welcome, new members! Please stop in and introduce yourselves. We're looking forward to getting to know you.

If you don't know where to start, feel free to answer these questions:
- Where are you from?
- What kinds of books do you like to read?
- How did you find our group?
- What's your reading goal?

[lynn whatman]

Hi I’m Lynn from Essex. Looking to add more like minded reading friends on here if possible. I love to read a good psychological thriller so any recommendations would be great. My goal is to read a lot more in 2023 than I did in 2020.

[Ronda]

Hello from Phoenix, AZ! I've been doing this challenge for years and I love a place to keep track of my books and see what others are reading. I read pretty much anything, I pick up a list and read what is on there, I read what my daughters read or suggest or I just see a book in the store that looks good. I mostly read on a Kindle, but I like regular books and audio books as well.

This year my daughter and I did the "blind date" Christmas books - so we each have 13 books to read by the end of the year that we won't know what they are until the first of each month. Then we will switch and read each others book.

Excited to read more this year - My goal is 75books, but I really hope to read more.

[Pudding]

Hi, I’m Safira from Indonesia. I like books. Anything. Feel free to recommend me what to read. My goal 2023: how to cope up without having reading slump, hence I will manage to read anything.
My current reading: Enigma
Author: Robert Haris

[Laurie]

Hi all, I am Laurie from Ohio. I truly love to read just about anything. I find these challenges push me to read things I might not have read. I beat my personal best this year and read a whopping 242 books thanks to all the challenges I did! I can’t wait to get started with this new group.🤗

[Marlowe]

Hi my name is Marlowe. I am from Delaware. I enjoy reading romance novels and thrillers, my goal for the new year is 50 books.

Looking to connect with new people who have similar reading interests- add me and I’ll return!

[Mary]

Hello from St Louis, Missouri. I have pretty eclectic tastes in books. Fanstasy, historical fiction, British lit of all eras (what I studied in college), biographies, history, and well, almost anything. I love to read, but I have young kids so I don't get as much time to read as I might want. I read 26 books in 2022 and I am hoping to read 30 in 2023. I am excited to be part of a supportive, uplifting group that helps each other succeed. Happy New Year!!

[Laraib]

Hi, my name is Laraib. I am from Pakistan. I read almost everything, and my reading goal for 2023 is 50 books.

[Mary]

Hi, Jordan from New Mexico. My personal reading challenge this year is to read these books: Proust's Swann's Way, Eliot's Middlemarch, Richardson's Clarissa, Hugo's The Hunchback, & Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I'm sure I'll read other books along the way including suggestions from this group's bookshelf.

[Jennifer]

Hello from Michigan, USA. I am hoping to stay committed to a reading goal this year. My goal is to read 12 books; a small but not overwhelming goal for me. I like a lot of different genres: non-fiction, dystopian novels, rom-com, memoirs/biographies, thrillers are sounding more exciting too. Looking forward to some good suggestions and conversation, thanks! ~ Jen

[Ilona]

Welcome everyone! We are so happy to have you here! :)

[Anna]

I am currently in Kansas, USA. I surprised myself and read over 100 books in 2022. For 2023 I am setting my goal at 75. I enjoy historical fiction; poetry, and mysteries. Goal is to read more memoirs. Love recommendations.

[Nancy]

Hi everyone! I’m Nancy from Richmond, VA. I just found groups and look forward to suggestions and reading challenges with others. I read mystery, thriller, romance, and fiction. I’ve had fun this past year finding new authors.

[Sunny (Jvke's version)]

My name is Kayla. I am 21. I am a college student and new here at GR. I love reading, music, and having fun. I'm here because I don't know anyone that likes books IRL, so I figured I could make some friends here! Send me a friend request and I will add you back. I have my own group that I started just for fun and you guys can DM too!

[Sam]

I did the challenge for 2022. I'm going bigger this year. I'm reading 52 books this year. 50% classics at least. I did a couple of bigger books last year. This year, I'm going for at least 5 1000+ page books, so that may keep my numbers down... but not below 52.

[Jennifer]

Hello everyone! I am from Missouri, USA. I like to read mysteries and chick lits, especially series, but want to expand to other genres. I plan to add fantasy and nonfiction to my reading list for 2023.

[haylee :]]

hi my name is haylee ! im 18 and i use she/they pronouns. i love scifi and fantasy books, but my favorite kind of books to read has got to be dystopian with some romance in it. idk what it is about it but i just love those types of books so much. my reading goal for 2023 is at least 60 books, which is a lot for me and i hope i can achieve that !! i would also like some goodreads friends who can keep me on track, so request to be my friend !!

[[deleted user]]

Hello. My name is Tori. I'm 31 years old and currently live in Lehi, UT. I like to draw and write in my spare time and recently took up rock tumbling as well. I primarily enjoy fantasy, but am also willing to venture out of genre. I am trying to pull myself out of a near 10 year reading slump and my current goal is 100 books this year (all from my shelves, nothing new purchased after December 31st).

[Sleepless]

Hi everyone!

I live in London at the moment and I was recently diagnosed with ADHD which makes me either read a book a day or nine at all so trying to read a book a week this year! I mostly read romance, crime, and fantasy. I only read female authors in 2022 aiming to do that again this year but maybe read minority authors as well!

[Devon]

Hello everyone! I'm Devon! I live in a small town in Texas called Abilene, where I attend college. I love to read fantasy and science fiction and I recently found out about the sub-genre called cozy fantasy so I will be diving into that soon. My reading goal for this year is to read the books in my tbr pile, so over 15, and hopefully more.

[Nikki]

Hi everybody, I'm Nikki! I'm from Malaysia and I love reading fantasy, science-fiction, and romance, though I am open to other genres as well. My goal this year is to keep reading consistently in my first year of my degree, and hopefully finish 35 books. I haven't been great in juggling my academics and my reading, I usually go cold-turkey during the peak seasons of assignments, and I really want to maintain a habit of reading this time around :) Lovely to meet everyone here!

[Evie]

Hello everyone! I'm Evie and I'm from North Carolina. I'm super excited to start this year off with a bang! Mt goal is 100 books and my favorite genres are horror, thrillers, and some fantasy. I'm hoping branch out this year and read more non-fiction and a lot of books by BIPOC authors!

[Emma]

Hi I'm Emma and I'm from Sydney, Australia. My favourite genres are romance, fantasy and historical fiction though I read pretty much everything. My goal is 165 books.

[Ahana]

Hello everyone! I am Ahana, and I am from Calcutta, India. I have been a student of literature for the last 4.5 years and somehow that has left me with no time to read for fun. I intend to start enjoying reading again this year. Since I have a degree to finish and a thesis to write, I am keeping my reading goal moderate at 35 for the year.

[Karley]

Hi !
My name is karley and I am 22 years old. I am from Maryland. I mainly enjoy the thriller/ mystery genre but I am trying to branch out into different ones. I found this group through a mutual friend who was super excited for me to join. My reading goal for 2023 is 20 books.
I hope to read some books with some fellow book lovers soon !
Thank you :)

[Martha]

Hello Everyone! I have tried the challenge in previous years but not managed to keep up between teaching, being a mom and grandma, and remembering to record. Finally retired and 'believe' 2023 is my year! I love HISTORICAL FICTION, anything about families, especially set in other eras, cultures - including not my own, earth & nature, history, genealogy, and DNA. Some of my reading is short and some books are very long so I think I will make a goal of 25 books this year!

[Blagica , Challenges]

Welcome everyone so happy to have you all joining our group! I have been here many many years and can promise you will find new books and new friends to love! Happy 2023!

[Martha]

Blagica wrote: "Welcome everyone so happy to have you all joining our group! I have been here many many years and can promise you will find new books and new friends to love! Happy 2023!"

Thanks! Happy 2023!

[Vicki]

Hello to everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Martha, we have in common that we both LOVE HISTORICAL FICTION! Congratulations on your retirement! I retired in 2017 and am loving it.

Favorite genres are historical fiction, mystery/thriller/psychological thriller and romance (depending on the type of romance...not really into erotica).

I'm Vicki and I live in California. I have 2 sons and 3 daughters, 22 grandchildren (12 boys, 10 girls) and 6 great grandchildren (3 boys, 3 girls) so we like to keep the genders fairly equal. lol I also have 2 living dogs, Rocky and Jazzy and one who passed away several years ago, Buddy, but he lives on in our hearts!

My reading goal this year is 365 books. In 2022 I read less than usual and read 286 (I think) so I want to increase my reading in 2023. A book a day is doable for the most part.

I'm a CHALLENGE ADDICT and probably have gotten myself into more trouble joining this group! HA HA HA! But I'm looking forward to it!

[Michele]

Hi, I'm Michele. My home is in Illinois, but hubby and I are currently wintering in the desert southwest in our camper. I am setting myself (once again) a goal of 50 books. In 2022, I surpassed that goal and read 59! I like to read romance, mystery, cozy mysteries and the occasional biography.

[Jane]

Hi! I joined 12/30 but I’ll introduce myself here too! I live in California and I’m currently a student. This year, my reading goal is 200! I usually enjoy reading poetry, historical fiction, and YA. Happy reading!!

[Kell]

Im Kell from new jersey! Im a social worker and in grad school to become a therapist for children. I started reading alot again in the summer and I like cheesy romances and interesting fiction books of all sorts! Love books about trauma n mental health too bc of what my profession is.

[Martha]

Vicki wrote: "Hello to everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Martha, we have in common that we both LOVE HISTORICAL FICTION! Congratulations on your retirement! I retired in 2017 and am loving it.

Favorite genres are ..."

Oh wow Vicki! You beat me in every way. I have 3 daughters and only 9 grandchildren...5 greats though! Ummm, when do you read? Or, rather, when do you not read?! My goal is only 25 books. Part of that is that my genealogy takes up an average of 2-5 hours a day. Some of my reading is also for that. I shall use you as my guiding star my new friend!

[Martha]

Kell wrote: "Im Kell from new jersey! Im a social worker and in grad school to become a therapist for children. I started reading alot again in the summer and I like cheesy romances and interesting fiction book..."

Go Kell! We need so many more therapists for kids!!! You have chosen not only a great career but a very needed one.

[Amninder]

Hey, my name is Amninder -14- and I'm from Leicester. I like almost any genre of books, but I read mostly fantasy, young adult, romace, science fiction, thriller, and I adore the occasional non-fiction. My reading goal for this year is 50 books

[Bonnie]

Hi. I'm Bonnie I live in NJ and have 2 YA daughters. I read more than the number of books I listed for last year's challenge, but I think I will leave the goal around the same. I especially like historical fiction and some nonfiction related to psychology and productivity.

[Martha]

Amninder wrote: "Hey, my name is Amninder -14- and I'm from Leicester. I like almost any genre of books, but I read mostly fantasy, young adult, romace, science fiction, thriller, and I adore the occasional non-fic..."

Hi Amninder! I'm so impressed with you! You remind me of my former library students who LOVE books. I mean all kids love library but only a select few truly love books enough to join a challenge and - while being a student - still say they will read 50 books. I am almost 70 years old and I would like to admit to you that I love young adult books too! Good Luck! And let us know if you meet your goal.

[Martha]

Bonnie wrote: "Hi. I'm Bonnie I live in NJ and have 2 YA daughters. I read more than the number of books I listed for last year's challenge, but I think I will leave the goal around the same. I especially like hi..."

Hi Bonnie! It's so great to see others who love historical fiction here...you are my people!

[Sammy BookWyrm]

Hi Everyone!
My name is Sammy and I’m from London, UK.

I love to read a variety of books from fiction to non fiction, romance, fantasy, crime, thrillers, graphic novels and mangas.
I also like to read physical books and ebooks.

My aim is to read 50 books this year.

[Amy]

Hi all of you Book Lovers!

I'm Amy and I'm from Arizona.

I enjoy reading a wide variety of genres. I'm always reading a self-help/spiritual/inspirational book and at least one other book at the same time. Historical fiction peeks my interest, but I do love variety. After reading an intense book, I'll switch to a funny or romantic one.

I joined Goodreads way back in 2006 and started logging my books here since 2012. I love lists and organizing so Goodreads makes me happy to be able to have the stats right at my fingertips!

The reading challenge keeps me motivated and on track so I'm sending my thanks for having a place to track! Last year I read 30 books (goal of 20), but I reduced my goal to 24 this year which is more in line with past years and, 2 books per month seems reasonable for me at this stage in my life.

Best Wishes to all and Happy Reading!!

[Martha]

Hi Amy! Martha in Ohio here. I am also hoping having a place to track will keep me consistent and, well, on track. Your reading habits seem a lot like mine. I have basically followed the fiction then nonfiction then fiction habit with, usually, more nonfiction and historical fiction. Good luck on your goals!

[Rachel]

Hiya everyone

Am Rachel from liverpool Uk
I’ve always read off and on and realised I need a food page turner I have set the challenge of 12 books this year as I only get time to read in bed at the moment
I have just read verity and thought I need some book friends or reading buddies to read and discuss together
Happy new year xx

[Morgan]

Hi everyone,

I'm Morgan from Ontario, Canada. I love to read and in past years loved completing challenges with the group. I took last year off and so missed reading things both in and out of my comfort zone. As a former bookseller/librarian, I love all kinds of books - historical fiction, rom com, dystopian, science fiction, fantasy, children's and YA, and non-fiction. Like Martha, I, too, am into genealogy and love family sagas or searches for family history. I set my challenge as 50 for this year.

Happy New Year!

[Dipanjan]

Hi everyone, I am Dipanjan from Kolkata, India. I am a casual reader and love to read thriller, mystery, action, comedy, and even non-fiction books; basically anything that has a good story with notable character arcs. I’m excited to be a part of this community and hope to interact with you all!

[M]

Hello!
Mo from Southern California.
I've been lurking Goodreads for a year now and am hoping to engage more this year. After not cracking open a book for nearly a decade, 2022 got me to 35. Hoping to make it to 40 this year :)
Happy New Years all!

[Martha]

Rachel wrote: "Hiya everyone

Am Rachel from liverpool Uk
I’ve always read off and on and realised I need a food page turner I have set the challenge of 12 books this year as I only get time to read in bed at t..."

Hi Rachel, I'm new here too. I set 25 books for myself but only because I recently retired and have more time. I also think the number is rather arbitrary since there are 100 page and 500 page books! We can do it!

[Martha]

Mo wrote: "Hello!
Mo from Southern California.
I've been lurking Goodreads for a year now and am hoping to engage more this year. After not cracking open a book for nearly a decade, 2022 got me to 35. Hoping ..."

Awesome Mo! You can do it easily. I'm the same as you, hoping the tracking and people here keep me on track. I'm from Southern California too but currently in Ohio. Grew up in The Valley when it was lots of orange groves. In Reseda we had a dairy next door and there were other daily farms nearby.

[Martha]

Dipanjan wrote: "Hi everyone, I am Dipanjan from Kolkata, India. I am a casual reader and love to read thriller, mystery, action, comedy, and even non-fiction books; basically anything that has a good story with no..."

Hi Dipanjan! Great to see people from all over here. I'm in Ohio, USA but we have neighbors from Nepal! Good luck with your reading goals.
P.S. Great English!

[Martha]

Morgan wrote: "Hi everyone,

I'm Morgan from Ontario, Canada. I love to read and in past years loved completing challenges with the group. I took last year off and so missed reading things both in and out of my ..."

This is so great for me because I rarely get to interact with others who read historical fiction! And genealogy too!!!

[Martha]

Karley wrote: "Hi !
My name is karley and I am 22 years old. I am from Maryland. I mainly enjoy the thriller/ mystery genre but I am trying to branch out into different ones. I found this group through a mutual f..."

Welcome Karley! I'm new here too and hoping it keeps me excited and reading a lot.