2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
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Introduce Yourself to the Group - 2023
Lauren wrote: "Hello! I’m Lauren, from Lincolnshire. I’ve set myself a challenge to read more in 2023, I’ve read some great books so far but struggling to find some good page turners!I love any kind of books th..."
Try 'Homecoming' by Kate Morton.
Hello, my name is Krishi and I come from Australia. I love reading but for a few months I have been in a reading block and then suddenly got back to binge-reading so I NEED new recommendations and I stumbled upon this group by searching up Dracula. My type of books are romance, thriller, adventure, and fantasy. One of my 5-star rated books is the Shatter Me series and I am really looking up for this book club.
Welcome, Krishi!You're more than welcome to join the Buddy Read for Dracula. The more, the merrier and all that, so we'd love to have you :)
There's so many flavors to the genres you listed, that it's a bit tricky recommending something specific. Like for instance, what do you think of as romance? Are you looking for YA, New adult, or adult? Same with the thriller genre - do you like psychological thrillers, or domestic thrillers? Are you looking for classics, or newer releases? As for fantasy, what are you looking for - grimdark, epic fantasy, urban fantasy, sci-fi blends, standalones, series?
That being said, you can't really go wrong with Emily Henry, in my opinion, if you enjoy more substance in your books that just pure romance.
I really enjoyed the Lovelight Farms-series by B.K. Borison. And if you like historical fiction with romance, then check out : The Songbook of Benny Lament - it's really fantastic!
For thrillers, I mentioned anything by John Marrs, in a previous comment. Also, if you've ever watched Criminal Minds, and like that show: The Collector Series - Dot Hutchison - 4 Book Set is really good. It's a quartet of "interconnected" books, in the sense that it follows different members of the FBI team taking lead on different cases.
A noir novel I recently read, and loved is the Bluebird, Bluebird.
Authors that do mystery thrillers really well, in my opinion, include Ashley Winstead, Guy Morpuss, and Stuart Turton.
Lastly, for fantasy, sooooooo many come to mind. Brandon Sanderson, N.K. Jemisin, China Miéville, Ursula K. Le Guin, Joe Abercrombie, Neil Gaiman, etc.
The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon was top notch! Also if you've watched Sons of Anarchy, and want a MC-inspired trilogy with orcs, check out The Grey Bastards. The main character's name is Jackal and if that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about the clear similarities to that tv-show.... :D
For historical fiction with a pinch of the fantastical, check out: The Judas Blossom, or The Golem and the Djinni.
Adrian Tchaikovsky or Neal Stephenson are also really good alternatives, if you prefer sci-fi/space operas.
I hope you find something you enjoy in anything that I've listed above, otherwise you're welcome to peruse through my shelves.
Have fantastic weekend, and happy reading!
See you at the buddy read for Dracula this month :)
Hi. I'm a writer and editor (and English teacher). My reading's become a little scattered recently - I find that I'm reading several books at the same time - so I thought I'd join Goodreads, and a few Goodreads groups, in order to encourage me to be a bit more focused. My plan is to review each book I read and then drop a comment here (I presume sharing reviews isn't encouraged) to mark the occasion and perhaps inspire a few discussions. Does that sound OK?
Welcome to the group Alan!The best way to share reviews here is to make your own Personal Challenge topic and post them there. Happy reading! :)
Ilona wrote: "Welcome to the group Alan!The best way to share reviews here is to make your own Personal Challenge topic and post them there. Happy reading! :)"
Ilona wrote: "Welcome to the group Alan!
The best way to share reviews here is to make your own Personal Challenge topic and post them there. Happy reading! :)"
Thanks, Ilona, I will be start reading Foundation Series.
Hello! My name is Brianne, I am from Orlando, FL. I typically read fantasy, romance/dark romance, and some sci-fi! I joined this group to find like minded people and be a part of challenges!
Brianne wrote: "Hello! My name is Brianne, I am from Orlando, FL. I typically read fantasy, romance/dark romance, and some sci-fi! I joined this group to find like minded people and be a part of challenges!"Welcome Brianne! We have plenty of challenges for you to join: Two new ones each month, two for each quarter, and 15 yearly challenges. The yearlies for 2024 will be posted in the first two weeks of December, but you are also very welcome to join the 2023 ones for the last 1.5 month ;)
Hi! I'm Jenn. I've been part of Goodreads for a number of years but I can't believe I only came across this group today when I was searching for 2024 reading challenges. While I do read everything, mystery and fantasy do seem to dominate my books of choice.
I am excited and look forward to everything this group has to offer, especially the various challenges and readathons.
JennH wrote: "Hi! I'm Jenn. I've been part of Goodreads for a number of years but I can't believe I only came across this group today when I was searching for 2024 reading challenges. While I do read everythin..."
Welcome Jenn, I am glad that you found us! :)
JennH wrote: "Hi! I'm Jenn. I've been part of Goodreads for a number of years but I can't believe I only came across this group today when I was searching for 2024 reading challenges. While I do read everythin..."
I have a few favourite groups, but this is my favourite one that is devoted primarily to challenges, thanks in great part to the moderators. I hope you enjoy it as well :)
Hello, everyone, I am new! My name is Ciara. I found this group through falling down the rabbit hole of links from a member in a different reading challenge group.I've been on Goodreads pretty much since its inception & have always been a big reader, but I took a time-out when my daughter was little & I got swept up in a different all-consuming hobby (sewing all my own clothes). My daughter is almosy 11 now & far more independent, & although I still sew (the last clothes I bought in a store were my maternity clothes--everything else I have sewn!), I got back into reading this past year & finally rediscovered my love of great novels, which was educated out of me many years ago when I went to creative writing school & became too intimate with how that particular sausage gets made.
I am not a big genre reader. I really prefer literary fiction (by which I guess I mean NOT genre?) & contemporary settings, but a good story is a good story, & I'm not a snob about it. I also read a fair amount of non-fiction. I read really fast & always have my eye on the new releases!
Hi everyone, I am Alina from germany. I always loved reading but have been struggling to stay on track over the past months. So I hope tracking and interacting with you all will help me stay focused. I enjoy reading fiction, romance, fantasy and sometimes crime.
Just finished the The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and started reading Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow this morning.
Just starting out with goodreads so I´ll have a look around in this group for the next days but am eager to participate in challenges and buddy-readings soon!
Hi, I‘m Sarah from Germany.Ever since I learned to read I’ve read a lot.
At Age 20, during College, this suddenly stopped and I didn’t read for quite a few years.
In 2021 I decided to get back to reading.
I put all my books on „unread“ and bought a looooooooooot more since then.
It seems to become a trend that I get into a bad reading slump between August and November… but for this year it’s over and I‘m back to reading the last few books for my personal challenge of 100.
My go-to-genre is thriller/crime, but I’ve tried other genres in the last 2 years. Romance is not for me. Same with historical fiction. Love to read non-fiction history books, though. To my surprise, fantasy became my second fav. genre.
I‘m always open for new recommendations….
Hi I'm Penny. I am living in a small village in Northern New South Wales in Australia. These days I tend to read on my e-reader. Is it laziness or are my eyes really not coping with books, or rather the paper many physical books are printed on? I own endless titles both on my e-reader and on my physical shelves. I also like to listen to audio books. Every year my wish is to tackle my TBR!I cannot remember when I've not read but joined Goodreads many years ago because often feel I have no direction to my reading. I love the planning, buddy reads, monthly/yearly challenges, in fact all of it.
I'm looking forward to participating in all possibilities in this group.
Welcome to the group, everyone! Feel free to join all the activities and don't hesitate to message me or one of the other mods if you have any questions! :)
Hello All :) I'm Ashley, from Delaware, USA! I love reading (specifically horror, sci-fi, mysteries, and romance) as well as most crafty type things. I enjoy knitting, crocheting, sewing, basically anything that involves textiles! I'm hoping that by joining here I can reduce my owned tbr from 287 to something less hefty. I would like my home bookcases to reflect books I've actually loved, not a lot of things I haven't yet read.
Hello!I am Julia from Albania. I used to be an avid reader but university absolutely demolished my desire to read. Now that I am done with it, I am looking into getting back into reading. I prefer romance but one of the goals I have set for myself is to expand onto other genres. My reading goal for 2024 is 150 books
Julia wrote: "Hello!I am Julia from Albania. I used to be an avid reader but university absolutely demolished my desire to read. Now that I am done with it, I am looking into getting back into reading. I prefer..."
Welcome to our group! We're thrilled to have you join us on this literary journey, and we can't wait to embark on exciting adventures through the pages of various genres together.
It's wonderful to learn a bit about your reading background and aspirations. I completely understand how university can sometimes take a toll on our leisure activities, but it's inspiring to see your determination to reignite your passion for reading now that you've completed that chapter of your life.
Your commitment to broadening your reading horizons is truly commendable. I can't wait to see what you read this year if you need anything don't hesitate to reach out.
Ashley wrote: "Hello All :) I'm Ashley, from Delaware, USA! I love reading (specifically horror, sci-fi, mysteries, and romance) as well as most crafty type things. I enjoy knitting, crocheting, sewing, basically..."A warm and enthusiastic welcome to our reading group, Ashley! We're absolutely delighted to have you join us from Delaware, USA. Your passion for reading and your love for a diverse range of genres, from horror and sci-fi to mysteries and romance, are truly exciting!
It's fascinating to hear about your crafty interests—knitting, crocheting, sewing, and all things textiles. What a wonderful combination of literary and creative pursuits! We can't wait to hear more about your crafting adventures and how they intertwine with your reading experiences. Please look around and join anything that looks fun!
Hi I’m Tiffany from Fremantle West Australia. I love reading literary award winning books, classics, poems and plays. My favourite writers are The Bronte sisters, Toni Morrison, Peter Carey, Irvine Welsh, Jeanette Winterson and Shakespeare. I’ve just achieved my reading challenge of 60 books this year! My favourite books this year were Demon Copperhead, I Know Where The Crawdads Sing, The Good Wife of Bath, and One Day.
Hi I’m Tiffany from Fremantle West Australia. I love reading literary award winning books, classics, poems and plays. My favourite writers are The Bronte sisters, Toni Morrison, Peter Carey, Irvine Welsh, Jeanette Winterson and Shakespeare. I’ve just achieved my reading challenge of 60 books this year! My favourite books this year were Demon Copperhead, I Know Where The Crawdads Sing, The Good Wife of Bath, and One Day.
Tiffany wrote: "Hi I’m Tiffany from Fremantle West Australia. I love reading literary award winning books, classics, poems and plays. My favourite writers are The Bronte sisters, Toni Morrison, Peter Carey, Irvine..."A warm and enthusiastic welcome to our reading group! It's an absolute pleasure to have someone with such a deep passion for literature join our community.
Your love for literary award-winning books, classics, poems, and plays resonates with the very essence of our reading group. Fremantle, West Australia, must be an incredible backdrop for your reading adventures. We're thrilled to have you bring your unique perspective and love for literature to our discussions.
Hi, Tiffany, how wonderful that you are joining us from "Down Under". In my youth, I dreamed of traveling to Australia and seeing so many awesome, amazing, and and fantastic places. I wanted to get to know the people as well. I look forward to seeing your choices for prompts/tasks. Welcome, and may 2024 be your best reading year ever.
Welcome to the group, everyone!We're thrilled to have you join us. If you have any questions or anything, please don't hesitate to reach out :)
I hope you're having a great 2023, are getting in the holiday spirit, and have an amazing 2024!
Good luck with your reading goals :)
Hey there, I’m Symph from the West Midlands, UK. I started reading horror at my high school’s library. Specifically Stephen King, as that’s all they had, and loved the combination of horror and mystery. I've just got back into reading and challenges seem to be a fantastic way to guide my return. Thanks to the Evil-a-thon, I was able to read 6 novels and one short story last month :)
Welcome to the group, Symph! I've never heard of the Evil-a-thon, but I must admit that now I'm curious so I'll be looking it up shortly.
Best of luck with your reading during the rest of the year, and of course in 2024! :)
Lisa wrote: "Welcome to the group, Symph! I've never heard of the Evil-a-thon, but I must admit that now I'm curious so I'll be looking it up shortly.
Best of luck with your reading during the rest of the ye..."
Thank you so much.
Evil-a-thon was run on YouTube by Kasha's Book Sematary. I came across it as I was looking for more challenges after I completed Spookopoly (by MegwithBooks) Both were really good fun.
SymphAdventures wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Welcome to the group, Symph! I've never heard of the Evil-a-thon, but I must admit that now I'm curious so I'll be looking it up shortly.
Best of luck with your reading during the r..."
I'll check it out! :) You've definitely joined the right group for challenges. We've got a great line-up in 2024! :)
SymphAdventures wrote: "Hey there, I’m Symph from the West Midlands, UK. I started reading horror at my high school’s library. Specifically Stephen King, as that’s all they had, and loved the combination of horror and mys..."A hearty welcome to our reading group, Symph! We're thrilled to have you join us all the way from the West Midlands, UK. Your journey into the world of horror literature, starting with Stephen King at your high school's library, sounds like the perfect initiation into the spine-tingling realm of books.
It's fantastic to hear that you've recently rekindled your passion for reading, and kudos to you for diving headfirst into challenges. The Evil-a-thon success story is impressive – six novels and a short story in a single month! That's some serious dedication, and we can't wait to hear all about the eerie tales that kept you on the edge of your seat. I am also a big Stephen King fan we need to swap reviews! A great welcome from the Mod Team
Hi everyone! I've been doing the Goodreads' annual challenge for a number of years now. I read every genre--it just depends on what I'm in the mood for. At the moment I'm reading some techno thrillers because I have a backlog of this genre I want to get through.
Welcome to the group, Jennifer! Congratulations for reaching your goals! :) Will you have the same goal in 2024?
I hope you have a blast here, and get to read fantastic books during the rest of the year, as well as next year.
Happy reading!
Jennifer wrote: "Hi everyone! I've been doing the Goodreads' annual challenge for a number of years now. I read every genre--it just depends on what I'm in the mood for. At the moment I'm reading some techno thrill..."Jennifer, it's fantastic to have you here! 🌈 As a seasoned explorer of the Goodreads' annual challenge, your love for literature has undoubtedly taken you on countless captivating journeys through the pages of diverse genres. Feel free to make yourself at home among fellow book lovers who, like you, appreciate the magic of stories across every genre. Whether you're in the mood for a heartwarming contemporary tale, an epic fantasy adventure, or the electrifying twists of a techno thriller, you're in excellent company.
Hi i am jan and i am from washington state. Ihave a lot of books. So i always looking for someone to tap me and say hey lets read something from your shelf both ebook, audio and in reality. So here to 2024 and a year of reading at least in some small way what i own.
Jan wrote: "Hi i am jan and i am from washington state. I blog at jrsbookreviews.com and i have a lot of books to read. I a blogger so that means i have a variety of commitments i get a haul of books from yabo..."Welcome, Jan, from the beautiful Washington state! We love the idea of someone tapping you on the shoulder and saying, "Hey, let's dive into your own bookshelves!" Whether it's an ebook, an audiobook, or a tangible paperback, here's to a fantastic 2024 filled with the joy of discovering and savoring the stories you already own. Here is the link to our buddy reads. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Hello! I’m Binstin, down from Richmond, Virginia. I love a good book, ‘specially after a long day’s work, keeping the hogs clean and the chickens healthy, haha! Now I consider myself a humble person, but I reckon I can figure ‘bout 30 books to read during 2024.
Binstin wrote: "Hello! I’m Binstin, down from Richmond, Virginia. I love a good book, ‘specially after a long day’s work, keeping the hogs clean and the chickens healthy, haha! Now I consider myself a humble perso..."Hey Binstin! Welcome! 🌟 Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, you're in for a literary treat. After tending to hogs and keeping chickens healthy, nothing beats a good book, right? Your goal of 30 books in 2024 sounds fantastic! Happy reading! 📚✨
Hi all! My name is Laura, i've actually been part of this group for two years now (I think) but haven't really interacted as much as I would like so I am starting fresh. I live in the West Midlands, UK and in my free time when I am not at work I read and when I am at work audiobooks are my best friend. I have no favourite genre, I am happy to read anything once to give it a go and any author as well. My main goal for 2024 is to read everything i own already and go on a book buying ban until i do so (i know, its a crime and it will kill me not to buy books 😂😂)
Hi all, I'm Zee (26f) from Omaha, Nebraska. I just got back into reading this year after not picking up a book for half a decade. Books have always been my escape so I am very excited to be back into it.I love mystery/thriller books, especially if they include nonlinear story telling, unreliable narrators, and multiple perspectives. As a lesbian, bonus points for sapphic rep!
I found the group by just searching for buddy reading groups and found the buddy read thread.
For 2023 I had a goal of 24 books, I am currently reading book 23. My goal for 2024 is 36 books.
Laura wrote: "Hi all! My name is Laura, i've actually been part of this group for two years now (I think) but haven't really interacted as much as I would like so I am starting fresh. I live in the West Midlan..."
Laura wrote: "Hi all! My name is Laura, i've actually been part of this group for two years now (I think) but haven't really interacted as much as I would like so I am starting fresh.
I live in the West Midlan..."
Welcome, welcome! We're thrilled to see you stepping into the limelight and engaging with our wonderful group. Your enthusiasm is contagious!
It's fantastic to learn more about your reading habits—reading in your free time and making audiobooks your workday companions. Your open-minded approach to genres and authors is truly admirable!
Wishing you the best on your 2024 goal of conquering your current book collection. The book buying ban may be a challenge, but we're here to cheer you on. Feel free to share your progress and recommendations along the way.
Here's to a fantastic journey together!
Zee wrote: "Hi all, I'm Zee (26f) from Omaha, Nebraska. I just got back into reading this year after not picking up a book for half a decade. Books have always been my escape so I am very excited to be back in..."Welcome to the group! We're absolutely thrilled to have you here all the way from Omaha, Nebraska. Your journey back into reading after a five-year hiatus is inspiring, and we're excited to be part of this new chapter with you!
Your love for mystery/thriller books with nonlinear storytelling, unreliable narrators, and multiple perspectives is fantastic. And the bonus points for sapphic representation—totally get that! 🌈
It's awesome that you found us through the buddy read thread. Your 2023 reading goal of 24 books is nearly complete with book 23 underway, and aiming for 36 books in 2024 is ambitious and exciting!
Hey guys! I'm pretty sure that I used to be in this group, but I got pretty overwhelmed and left a ton of my old groups. But hey! I'm Sav! I really love historical fiction, contemporary romance, and fantasy. I think that a group like this could really help keep me motivated. This year, my goal was 100, and I'm currently at 89, I believe, so I think that next year 100+ will be achievable. So glad to be here!
Savannah [radiating academia] wrote: "Hey guys! I'm pretty sure that I used to be in this group, but I got pretty overwhelmed and left a ton of my old groups. But hey! I'm Sav! I really love historical fiction, contemporary romance, an..."Welcome back to the group! We're absolutely thrilled to have you here. It's totally understandable that life can get overwhelming, and we're glad you found your way back. Your enthusiasm is contagious, and it's fantastic to hear that you're diving into the world of books again.
Historical fiction, contemporary romance, and fantasy—what an awesome trio of genres! Your reading preferences sound like a perfect fit for our diverse community. We're all about supporting each other, and it's fantastic that you see our group as a motivation boost. We believe in cheering each other on as we tackle our reading goals. Here's to a fantastic reading journey ahead!
Blagica wrote: "Laura wrote: "Hi all! My name is Laura, i've actually been part of this group for two years now (I think) but haven't really interacted as much as I would like so I am starting fresh. I live in t..."
The thing is I was never an audiobook person but I tried them this year and they are addictive!! I am loving sitting doing my work and still being able to get a book read! I use my library app for them so i can save money
I am determined to get to a point where my physical shelf only has the tbr for the month not like now where they are taking over everything lol!
Thank you and good luck to everyone for the new year and may all your reading goals be fulfilled!
Hello, I’m Lillie. I’m a senior in high school in a small town in South Georgia. I enjoy reading romance books and the occasional thriller books. I’ve been trying to be interactive with group discussions about books and do buddy reads so I went looking for a good group and came across this one!! My 2023 reading goal was 45 which is a little low and I don’t think I’ll hit it but I’ve had some setbacks with starting senior year and finals. Although, in 2024 my goal is 60!!
lillie (Taylor’s Version) wrote: "Hello, I’m Lillie. I’m a senior in high school in a small town in South Georgia. I enjoy reading romance books and the occasional thriller books. I’ve been trying to be interactive with group discu..."Welcome to the group! 📚 We're thrilled to have you here. Your passion for romance and thrillers adds a fantastic vibe to our reading mix. Life happens, and we totally get it—senior year and finals can be a whirlwind. But hey, here's to a fresh start in 2024 with your goal of 60 books! 🚀 Let's embark on this reading adventure together! 📖💙
Hi guys! I am Adithi from India…I recently joined this group and I am really loving it…I have completed 90 books now consisting of both 2022 and 2023…I have completed around 37 books this year till now and I am hoping to complete a few more before Jan 1… I have joined this group ‘cus I feel like this has all the characteristics of my own self… so yeah..looking forward to talk with u guys… bye for now
Hi! My name is Asheena and I've been on goodreads for a few years but haven't been active much which is why I joined this group. I read almost anything and everything except non-fiction which I'm hoping to change. I'm really excited to try and participate in as many challenges as I can and read more books.
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2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (other topics)Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (other topics)
Bluebird, Bluebird (other topics)
The Grey Bastards (other topics)
The First Girl Child (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Neal Stephenson (other topics)John Marrs (other topics)
Ashley Winstead (other topics)
Guy Morpuss (other topics)
Stuart Turton (other topics)
More...
Best of luck with your reading goals. I saw that you're really close to completing your GR challenge for 2023, so congratulations in advance :)
Don't hesitate to reach out if you've got any questions or the like.
Have fun, and happy reading!