Introduce Yourself to the Group - 2024

[Juan]

Thank you Lisa!! It is nice meeting you!!!

[Lisa]

Nice to meet you too! Is there a specific flavor of horror you prefer?

I've noticed that as I grow older, the more of a scaredy-cat I become, so I haven't read as much horror as I wish these last couple of years.

[Emily]

Hello. I'm Emily from the UK. I read 55 books last year and want to read about 80 this year.

I like reading fantasy books. I greatly enjoyed The Throne of Glass series. I picked up the next book as soon as I finished one.

I am trying to get into Science Fiction but I don't think it is my think. The genres I like are mystery, thriller, fantasy, and historical.

I am currently reading Carrie and The Fairytale by Stephen King.

I found this group in the challenges section and hoped it would help me keep on track. Particularly because I found it helped at school when I participated in the carnegie and brilliant book awards.

Thank you for the admittance.

[Lisa]

Welcome to the group, Emily!
That's such a great goal for 2024. I'm sure you'll be able to reach it, and even if not, remember the enjoyment throughout your reading journey is (or should be) the ultimate goal :)

Science fiction is a huge genre, and there are lots of sub-genres to explore. Sci-fi isn't for everyone, which is completely fine - we all have different tastes and preferences, and enjoy reading different genres. Like I'm not particularly a big fan of steampunk or military science, but on the other hand, I really enjoy first-contact, time travel, dystopian (for the most part), etc.
But what is it within the genre, that hasn't worked for you in the past?

Depending on what you've read in the past, I'd recommend figuring out what elements you could be interested in reading about, and finding soft-sci-fi books that explore them in an accessible way.
I'm not a authority on the matter in any way, but a great entry point, in my opinion, are books such as : The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Circle, Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, or 1984.
Also, anything by Ursula K. Le Guin and Jules Verne.
And if you'd rather try you're hand at YA sci-fi as a starting point, anything by Robert A. Heinlein.

Another entry point entirely are cross-over books from the genres you already gravitate towards.
For example, you mention you like mystery, thriller, fantasy, and historical, in which case you could try speculative fiction. John Marrs and Guy Morpuss are two of my favorite authors.
For mysteries with a sci-fi aspect, something like Lock In by John Scalzi, or Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, are good options. I read The Space Between Worlds not too long ago, and would definitely recommend it aswell.
As for historical, the first thing that came to mind that isn't too complicated is Kindred, although I despise people categorizing it as sci-fi since it's fantasy (according to Octavia E. Butler herself). But also, classics like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or The Island of Doctor Moreau, fit the bill perfectly.

One last proposition for you, is to check out anthologies. They're a great way to pin point what you like or don't like within any genre, aswell as experience various authors with different writing styles in a short format.

Regardless on whether you decide to dip your toes into the sci-fi genre or not, I hope you have an amazing reading year, Emily :)
Happy reading!

P.S. Btw, the group is reading Flowers for Algernon this month, which definitely qualifies as soft-sci-fi, so perhaps that could be a possibility if you'd wish to join the discussion :)

[Andi]

Hi! I'm Andi from PA. I'm getting back into reading full books after dropping it for fanfiction in high school... just needed the lower barrier of entry at the time. I love fantasy, sci-fi, and historical fiction. I'm working on a goal right now of reading famous Latin American authors, e.g. Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende. My year-long reading goal is 100 books.
I found this group just by happening upon it on the groups tab. I'd love to get to know some other readers whoo like what I do.

[Lisa]

Welcome Andi! So happy you found us, and decided to join.

Those are fantastic goals. I hope you discover lots of books by Latin American authors that'll make it to your favorites list by the end of the year.

Wishing you the best reading journey in 2024 :)
If you have any questions or anything, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Happy reading!

[Blagica , Challenges]

Andi wrote: "Hi! I'm Andi from PA. I'm getting back into reading full books after dropping it for fanfiction in high school... just needed the lower barrier of entry at the time. I love fantasy, sci-fi, and his..."

A heartfelt welcome from the Mods here Andi. Looking forward to reading with you.

[LinaVer]

Hi everyone,
My name is Lina, I'm originally from Lithuania but I live in the Netherlands. I have ADD and a lot of different interests, so my books reflect that. I'll read anything and everything if it sparks my interest!
I read in Lithuanian and English mostly, but I am slowly picking up Dutch and Italian as I am learning these languages.
Books have carried me through darkest but also the lightest moments of my life and I literally have memories associated with certain books.
I've already passed my reading challenge numbers-wise, but I've been reading a lot of similar genre books lately, so my new goal is to read more (auto)biographies, fantasy, feminism, stoic lit, and non-fiction.
I'd love to make some bookish friends and I was exploring buddy-reading idea, so that's how I found this group.

[Lisa]

Welcome Lina!
Congratulations on surpassing your numeric goal already! Here's to the rest of 2024 being full of amazing books.

I'm not sure I've ever heard the term "stoic lit" before. Does that just encompass books on stoicism, and stoic themed fiction ? Or is there more to it?

By your description we might as well be kindred spirits :D Looking forward to getting to know you. I hope you come to love the group as much as the rest of us.
Good luck and happy reading! :)

[[deleted user]]

Lina wrote: "Hi everyone,
My name is Lina, I'm originally from Lithuania but I live in the Netherlands. I have ADD and a lot of different interests, so my books reflect that. I'll read anything and everything i..."

Welcome to the group Lina! My husband's great-grandparents were from the Netherlands, and we live in a predominately Dutch area in our state, in the Midwest, U.S. :)

[[deleted user]]

Juan wrote: "Hi all
My name is Juan! I am from the Southern Oregon area! My favorite book genre has to be Horror! Goal for the rest of the year is reading 9 books! ☺️ happy to be part of this group!"

Welcome to the group! I enjoy horror as well :)

[Blagica , Challenges]

Lina wrote: "Hi everyone,
My name is Lina, I'm originally from Lithuania but I live in the Netherlands. I have ADD and a lot of different interests, so my books reflect that. I'll read anything and everything i..."

So happy to have you join us! Looks like you have jumped right in. Looking forward to reading with you. Let us mods know if you need anything

[Spring]

Hello. I'm Allona (Uh-lawn-uh).
- Where are you from? I live in the Sunshine state, Tampa area.
- What kinds of books do you like to read? I love psychological thrillers and christian theological books. I Also love to study the bible.
- How did you find our group? Just clicking through goodreads.
- What's your reading goal? Right now i'm doing 2, in tandem, A to Z challenges. One is a simple A to Z titles to read what I have on my own shelves this year. The other is A to Z get to know the authors from Boxall's 1001 list. The former is going well, the later is still out for debate but I am being introduced to lots of different genres through Boxall's list.

I am a SAHW/M. I try to make space to read everyday although some days are busier than others and I may not get to read each and every day. I am pleased to discover that I have passed on my love for reading to my children who all just gobble books in various forms. We are still trying to convert the Mister. When I'm not reading I also garden and do garden adjacent things or you can find us out of the water kayaking or snuggling with our dogs and cats.
I'm always open to book suggestions, right now I am shamelessly bulldozing through Freida McFadden books even though I haven't accredited them to either of my challenges.
Happy reading to you all.

[Blagica , Challenges]

Allona wrote: "Hello. I'm Allona (Uh-lawn-uh).
- Where are you from? I live in the Sunshine state, Tampa area.
- What kinds of books do you like to read? I love psychological thrillers and christian theological ..."

Hello, Allona 🌞 We're delighted to have you join us from the beautiful Tampa area in the Sunshine State!
Your reading goals sound intriguing, especially your A to Z challenges. It's fantastic to hear that your A to Z titles challenge is going well, and exploring authors from Boxall's 1001 list must be quite the adventure!

As a Stay-at-Home Wife/Mother, finding time to read amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life can be challenging, but it's wonderful to hear that you make space for it every day. And it's heartwarming to hear that your love for reading has been passed down to your children. Maybe one day, the Mister will join the reading club too! 😉
We're always here to share book recommendations and discuss our latest reads, so feel free to dive into discussions and share your thoughts with us. And there's no shame in bulldozing through books that capture your interest, regardless of your reading challenges!

Once again, welcome to the group, Allona! Wishing you many happy reading adventures ahead. 📚🌟

[Lisa]

Welcome to the group, Allona! 👋
We're so thrilled that you found our group and decided to join!

That's such a great goal. Personally I have some major issues with the books curated within Boxall's list, but that doesn't deter me from trying to work my way through it every single year.

I love psychological thrillers aswell - the darker and more messed up the better, but let us not analyze that little tidbit 🤪
Have you read any good ones this year that you'd recommend? I feel like all the ones I've read recently have been more mellow and kinda generic, which is fine... They've just been a bit too save and haven't quite scratched that itch. You know? :D I also think there's a lot of popular books that get mislabeled as thrillers, when in reality they're mostly mysteries or suspense thrillers, which again is fine, but not the same.

Btw, in case you haven't seen it but want to join, we also host a yearlong A-Z challenge that would probably work really well alongside your personal one for books you own :)

Wishing you the best of luck with your goals and plans in 2024 :)
Happy reading! 📚

[joanne.linn]

hii <3
I'm Joanne and I'm a teen from Taiwan, I used to hate reading when I was younger but have gotten a lot more into it in the last 5 or so years by finding what I prefer and like.

I'm not a fan of science fiction and fantasy (this one kinda depends) as they're what made me dislike reading before as these genres are my sister's favourites and it's what my mom bought. My favourtie kind of books are thrillers, romance, horror and nonfiction stories and some recent reads I loved are My Lovely Wife, If He Had Been with Me, The Silent Patient, and It Ends with Us

I just started using goodreads this year and my reading goal is 35 books, I'm not aiming superr high because last year I probably only read like 5 books the whole year and all of them were during the summer so I'm definitely still getting into reading more.

[Lisa]

Welcome to the group, Joanne!
Discovering what you like and don't enjoy is part of what makes reading most exciting, in my opinion. There are so many genres, and different tropes and takes within those, that the options to choose from are almost endless.

Wishing you lots of luck on your reading journey :)
Happy reading!

[Blagica , Challenges]

joanne.linn wrote: "hii <3
I'm Joanne and I'm a teen from Taiwan, I used to hate reading when I was younger but have gotten a lot more into it in the last 5 or so years by finding what I prefer and like.

I'm not a fa..."

Welcome from the mod team. So happy to have you here. The books you listed are some of my favorites. I think you will find lots to do here and even better lot's of friends. Please look around and join anything that looks fun.

[Joanne]

Hi all.
I am Joanne, from Manchester in the UK.

I current favourites genres are Romance, Fantasy, cosy mystery and thrillers.
I found this group looking for book recommendations.
My reading challenges have been well over 250 books!

I feel in a bit of a rut with the books i read and would really love any recommendations regardless of genre.

[Lisa]

Hi Joanne, and welcome to the group! 👋

So I was looking through your shelves to come up with recommendations. Since you mentioned that you've been in a bit of a rut, I'm trying to mention books that aren't necessary the ones everyone else is talking about.
You are more than welcome to have a looksee through my read shelf and see if there's anything that I haven't mentioned that piques your interest, and I'm happy to talk more :)

In terms of romance, do you prefer straight up romance, or something with more a bit more substance like women's fiction with a sprinkling of romance? Also, are there any specific tropes that you enjoy more than others?
I always feel weird recommending romance, because there are so many preferences to take account for, but I think a rather safe bet, that I really enjoyed is the Lovelight Farms-quartet by B.K. Borison. The 4th book will be released in July.
A historical fiction with romance, that I can't stop thinking is The Songbook of Benny Lament. I loved that book so much, and I think you will too since you enjoy Barbara Davis books!

For fantasy, do you prefer standalones or series?
Personally I really enjoy urban fantasy, so I have two recommendations of the top of my head: American Gods, or the Cainsville-series by Kelley Armstrong.
Also The Golem and the Jinni is one of my favorites of all time. And a more recent historical fantasy I read, and really enjoyed is The Judas Blossom. The First Girl Child is also fantastic!

For thrillers, my first recommendation will probably always be The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. Five Minds is also really good.
If you enjoy speculative fiction John Marrs is the only way to go, in my opinion.
Other authors that I think do thrillers really well are Dot Hutchinson and Paul Pen.

And lastly, just to wrap this up, some of my favorites of all-time (in no particular order, and still trying not to recommend overly popular ones):
- The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell (historical fiction, coming-of-age)
- Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance (magical realism)
- The Passengers You Cannot See or Suburban Monsters (horror, short-story collection)
- How Icasia Bloom Touched Happiness (sci-fi)

I hope this helps, and that you manage to reignite your interest for reading by discovering fantastic books that you enjoy :)

Wishing you lots of good luck on your reading journey!
Happy reading!

[Blagica , Challenges]

Joanne wrote: "Hi all.
I am Joanne, from Manchester in the UK.

I current favourites genres are Romance, Fantasy, cosy mystery and thrillers.
I found this group looking for book recommendations.
My reading chall..."

A warm welcome from the moderator team! I totally get how ruts can feel, and Lisa provided a lot of great options. To rekindle your spark, I recommend trying a challenge or a buddy read. I've been part of this group for a long time, and I hope you make lots of friends and discover books you'll love.

[Tina]

Hello everyone I am Tina Smith and i am from Indianapolis, IN. I stumbled on this page searching for a particular book i believe it is called Purpose finding your community. I had read this book previously and wanted to read it again. I am going through a period of spiritual growth and evolution. my goal is to learn as much as i can about helping coach and counsel addicts, more specifically addicts who have children, the reason for this is because the children inadvertently become the victims of their parents disease, and wards of the state. If I can educate these men and women and help teach them basic parenting skills and recovering coaching, then perhaps I can help lessen the burden on the system. My hope is to help them hone and sharpen their parenting skills, strengthen the parent child bonds, and help them rise above the disease of addiction. Give them a sense of purpose and recognize their value. Having been an alcoholic-addict and former drug dealer, I am very passionate about this cause. Fortunately my children were grown when I was in active addiction, I feel like it is my duty and calling to help create a safe haven for men and women suffering from the disease of addiction having been a contributing factor to the issue. It is my responsibility to help create a resolution. I read about a book every day to day and a half, Full novels from cover to cover in about 36 hours. When I pick up a book, i have a hard time laying it down without completely finishing it. I just turned 50 and returned to college so my pace will undoubtedly be slowed down. but i am shooting for 150 books this year.

Tina

[Blagica , Challenges]

Tina wrote: "Hello everyone I am Tina Smith and i am from Indianapolis, IN. I stumbled on this page searching for a particular book i believe it is called Purpose finding your community. I had read this book pr..."

Welcome Tina so happy to have you join our group. I find your mission commendable and hope your journey helps many people find resolution. There are many things to join in our group so please look around and have fun.

[Lisa]

Tina wrote: "Hello everyone I am Tina Smith and i am from Indianapolis, IN. I stumbled on this page searching for a particular book i believe it is called Purpose finding your community. I had read this book pr..."

Welcome Tina! 👋
Wishing you the best of luck in 2024. I hope you have a fantastic year and discover lots of amazing books along the way :)
Best of luck on your literary journey and with your goals!

[Emily]

Does anyone know the title of this book?

The book was about a family being sucked into a close off cult community run by a man who claimed to be god and stored their belongings in his home for his own profit.

The story splits the narration between the narrator's past and present. It details the life in the cult, them cultivatinf their own food and being punished by being put in a freezer box or simply a box.
The cult is infiltrated by an undercover officer who befriends the narrator.

The present section follows the girl being suspicious of the psychiatrist who visits her and as the book progresses she begins to assimilate into someone who could function in society. She is reintroduced to her mother whom she was told was dead.

Does anyone know what this is called?

[Blagica , Challenges]

Emily wrote: "Does anyone know the title of this book?

The book was about a family being sucked into a close off cult community run by a man who claimed to be god and stored their belongings in his home for hi..."

After the Fire by Will Hill. maybe?

[TerryJane, Challenges]

Emily wrote: "Does anyone know the title of this book?

The book was about a family being sucked into a close off cult community run by a man who claimed to be god and stored their belongings in his home for hi..."

Hi, Emily! I don't recognize this book description, but perhaps another member may. If all else fails, there is a GR group dedicated specifically to this cause. You may wish to visit them at What's the Name of that Book?

Hope this helps!

[Lisa]

Emily wrote: "Does anyone know the title of this book?

The book was about a family being sucked into a close off cult community run by a man who claimed to be god and stored their belongings in his home for hi..."

My initial thought was that it might be one about the Waco Siege, but that doesn't really narrow it down to specifics.

Is it fiction or non-fiction? A newer release or older?

Either way, it sounds like something I would definitely read :D I'll keep thinking on it.

[Emily]

It's After the fire by Will Hill. Thank you Blagica. I've been trying to remember that for months.

[Blagica , Challenges]

Emily wrote: "It's After the fire by Will Hill. Thank you Blagica. I've been trying to remember that for months."

My pleasure

[Blagica , Challenges]

Nimarsin wrote: "Hi all!
I’m Nimarsin, and my reading diet is mainly westerns and fantasy. With that said, I do try to travel outside my usual course, but familiarity is comforting. My goal for the year is quite l..."

Welcome, Nimarsin! We're so happy to have you join us. I'm a big believer in doing things that bring us joy, and it sounds like you've found your niche with westerns and fantasy. Our group is full of interesting people who love to read a variety of genres. Feel free to look around and join any discussions that catch your interest. Let us know if you need anything!

[Whitney]

Hi. My name is Whitney and I am from Tennessee, USA. I found this group because I was looking for an A-Z challenge. I was doing the challenge on my own but was looking to see if there was somewhere to do the challenge with other people. Luckily, I found this group and joined the challenge. My reading goal for this year is 92. I am hoping to match the number of books I read last year. So far, I am ahead of schedule. Yay! I will read just about anything. But, I usually read rom coms or thrillers/mysteries.

[Blagica , Challenges]

Whitney wrote: "Hi. My name is Whitney and I am from Tennessee, USA. I found this group because I was looking for an A-Z challenge. I was doing the challenge on my own but was looking to see if there was somewhere..."


Hello, Whitney! 🌞 We're thrilled to have you join us from Tennessee!

It's fantastic that you found our group while searching for an A-Z challenge. It's wonderful to hear that you were already doing the challenge on your own and now have found a place to share it with others. Your reading goal of 92 books is impressive, especially since you're ahead of schedule. Yay! 🎉

Your love for rom coms and thrillers/mysteries brings a delightful mix to your reading list. We're excited to have you here and look forward to discussing books with you!

[Lisa]

Welcome to the group, Nimarsin and Whitney! 👋 Nice to meet you both!
We're so happy that you found your way to our group, and decided to join in on the fun 😊

Wishing you the best of luck reaching all your goals - Happy reading!

[John]

Hello!

I’m John. I’m from the USA and I’m about halfway through my reading challenge for the year. I gravitate towards fantasy and sci fi but I also love true crime cold case books. I also love literature and honestly will read anything that is well written. So glad to join! Also, I prefer reading physical copies of books rather than electronic.

Happy reading!

[Lisa]

Hey John, 👋
We're thrilled to have you join us - welcome to the group!

Congratulations in advance on reaching your goals 🥳
Wishing you the best of luck on your reading journey during the rest of the year.

Happy reading!

[Blagica , Challenges]

John wrote: "Hello!

I’m John. I’m from the USA and I’m about halfway through my reading challenge for the year. I gravitate towards fantasy and sci fi but I also love true crime cold case books. I also love l..."

Hey John welcome to the group! I love all the genres you listed. Is there a fantasy book you would recommend?
i am super new to fantasy. But True Crime is my Jam. Wow that sounds bad. Anyway, welcome welcome

[Nicole]

Hello .
•I’m Nicole
•I’m 34 I will be 34 next month
•I am in a reading slump but I’m trying so hard to get out of it
•I like thrillers & horror & mystery but I want to read other stuff too
•thank you for allowing me to join

[Sharon]

Hi everyone! My name is Sharon, and I'm from Canada. I've recently gotten back into reading after purchasing an e-reader, and I have an ambitious reading challenge goal for 2024 of 100 books. My favourite genres are memoirs, fantasy, romance, and literary fiction. I'm hoping to find a tbr twin!

[Blagica , Challenges]

Nicole wrote: "Hello .
•I’m Nicole
•I’m 34 I will be 34 next month
•I am in a reading slump but I’m trying so hard to get out of it
•I like thrillers & horror & mystery but I want to read other stuff too
•tha..."

Hello, Nicole! 🌟

We're so happy to have you join us! Being in a reading slump can be tough, but we're here to help you find that spark again. Thrillers, horror, and mystery are great genres, and exploring other genres can be a fun adventure too. Thank you for joining us, and we hope you find lots of inspiration here!

[Blagica , Challenges]

Sharon wrote: "Hi everyone! My name is Sharon, and I'm from Canada. I've recently gotten back into reading after purchasing an e-reader, and I have an ambitious reading challenge goal for 2024 of 100 books. My fa..."

Hello, Sharon! 🌟

We're thrilled to have you join us from Canada! Getting back into reading with an e-reader sounds like a fantastic way to dive into your ambitious goal of 100 books for 2024. Memoirs, fantasy, romance, and literary fiction are wonderful genres, and we're sure you'll find plenty of inspiration and maybe even a TBR twin here. Happy reading!

[Lisa]

Nicole wrote: "Hello .
•I’m Nicole
•I’m 34 I will be 34 next month
•I am in a reading slump but I’m trying so hard to get out of it
•I like thrillers & horror & mystery but I want to read other stuff too
•tha..."

Welcome, Nicole! 👋
Aww I'm sorry to hear that you're in a slump. I'm extremely familiar with the feeling. I think we've all been there, right? It will pass, just remember to be gentle with yourself and don't stress about it too much :)

I thought perhaps I could share a couple of things that tend to work for me. They're not revolutionary by any means, but maybe they help you as well :)

My number one advice is always to Lean into the slump.
I know it sucks and feels counterintuitive, but forcing the matter might not be the best way to deal with it. As someone who reads books for a living, I've learned that sometimes the best answer is the most obvious one. It's important to remember that it's okay not to read, and maybe you just need a little break, so (temporarily) forget all about those reading goals you really, really want to reach before the end of the year, and relax. Personally, I usually fall back to other hobbies for a little while, whether that's gaming, or painting, or watching tv.

Second, Re-read a favorite.
Going back to something you know and love is always a good option, in my opinion. Just be sure it's something that gets the dopamine flowing, instead of something sad and somber. Like I love A Monster Calls, but if I read it whilst in a slump, I'd just wallow in it forever 😅.

Third, Switch it up.
Whether it be changing the format, genre, or location. Give audiobooks a go, if you haven't already. Try a genre you don't normally dabble in, if you think it might shake things up a bit. I'm not a total fan of audio books, but I do love sitting outside and reading whenever the weather allows ☀️ Just remember, the shorter and lighter - the better. Novellas are your friend. And don't forget about short-story collections by authors you're already familiar with.
Another fantastic way of switching it up, may be by joining buddy reads or group reads. It's one of my favorite tricks to get over a reading slump. Sometimes the social aspect of discussion, plus the accountability. are great motivators to getting back into gear.

And lastly, Take baby steps.
Setting small goals works wonders. It can be to read a page a day, or a chapter or whatever you can manage without losing the momentum. Depending on how long you've been in a slump, don't expect yourself to hit off the fast track from the get-go. The key is to take the time to rediscover the joy of reading.

I hope this helps. I'm certain you'll manage to overcome your slump soon, Nicole! Getting out of a reading slump can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, but remember it's about finding whatever works for you, and sometimes that takes time.

And if all else fails, Ask for recommendations from like-minded readers.

Wishing you the most awesome reading journey!
Happy reading :)

[Lisa]

Sharon wrote: "Hi everyone! My name is Sharon, and I'm from Canada. I've recently gotten back into reading after purchasing an e-reader, and I have an ambitious reading challenge goal for 2024 of 100 books. My fa..."

Welcome to the group, Sharon! 👋
E-readers are amazing aren't they? I know I wouldn't change my Kindle for anything in the world.

100 books sounds like a fantastic goal, btw! And there are plenty of opportunities to finding a TBR-twin in the group 😊
Wishing you the best of luck with your reading goals - I hope you have a great year!

[Avida]

Hi, Sorry for joining so late. I'm an avid reader from Austria. I love historical fiction, gothic novels, contemporary literature, ... anything, really. Some of my favourite authors are Maggie O'Farrell, Chimamanda Ngozi, David Lodge, Amy Tan - to name just a few.. I also love audio books. (Latest: Birnam Wood by E. Catton)
"Reading is an affliction contracted in childhood" (by?) - true for me!

[Lisa]

Welcome Avida!👋
No need to apologize - there are no time constrictions to joining the group :) Hell, I'm fairly certain I joined in mid-December of whatever year😅

Still plenty of time and opportunity to join lots of challenges, as well as partake in bookish discussions throughout the rest of the year. I hope you have fun exploring all what the group has to offer. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions - we're all friendly here 😊

Wishing you all the best on your reading journey :)

[Blagica , Challenges]

Avida wrote: "Hi, Sorry for joining so late. I'm an avid reader from Austria. I love historical fiction, gothic novels, contemporary literature, ... anything, really. Some of my favourite authors are Maggie O'Fa..."

Welcome Welcome! So happy to have you join our group. I love audiobooks we should talk. I sent a request!

[Kristen]

Hello everyone! My name is Kristen and I'm from Michigan, USA. I'm a little late to the party but I've just found this group and am excited to track and update my reading goal progress here.

My goal for 2024 is to read 10 books, which I am on track to complete! My favorite book so far has been The Poisonwood Bible, and I'm currently reading book number 6, This is How You Lose the Time War.

I enjoy reading all genres, but mostly fiction, especially historical and literary fiction. I am also trying to incorporate some classics into my regimen, and hope to read The Bell Jar this year.

Feel free to friend me or suggest me a book! I'm happy to be a part of this group.

[Blagica , Challenges]

Kristen wrote: "Hello everyone! My name is Kristen and I'm from Michigan, USA. I'm a little late to the party but I've just found this group and am excited to track and update my reading goal progress here.

My g..."
hi Kristen! welcome to our group. We are so happy to have you. Better late then never I say. As far as the Bell Jar I read it and liked it. I might suggest looking at the buddy reads to see if anyone wants to read it with you.

[Lari]

Hello everyone! I'm Larissa from Brazil. English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or weird-sounding sentences I might write

I decided to join a group to maybe (hopefully) get to know some people and to try and maintain my reading habits amidst university trying to kill me T-T. I'm open to reading anything that strikes my fancy, but I have a soft spot for cozy found-family tropes with children. I also love sci-fi and weird philosophical books, so if you're interested in any of that and have some recommendations, I'd love to hear them! I get really anxious setting huge reading goals, so I try to keep it to 12 books a year and see where life takes me. Good reading to you all! :)

[Lisa]

Larissa wrote: "Hello everyone! I'm Larissa from Brazil. English is not my first language, so I apologize in advance for any mistakes or weird-sounding sentences I might write

I decided to join a group to maybe (..."

Welcome to the group, Larissa! 👋
Setting goals is supposed to motivate you, not stress you out, so I think 12 is an excellent goal :)

I'm always up to sharing recommendations, but I'll have to get back to you on that, since I'm not at home at the moment.
Also, I sincerely hope university stuff gets better - we can't have any studious-related deaths amongst our midst 😅

Wishing you lots of luck on your reading journey. I hope you get to discover lots of amazing books along the way.
Happy reading!