2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Personal Challenge: 101+
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Rachael Readsalot's 101 Book-matians
37. Under Different Stars by Amy A Bartol297 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (20/36), Mount TBR (20/36), Serial Reader (15/30), A Recipe for Happiness (1/12), Book Scrabble (2/4), Readingoals Readathon (4/9)
Why I read this: I've owned it for a while
Books TBR=491
38. The Other Side of Never: Dark Tales from the World of Peter & Wendy by Various333 pages
⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (21/36), Mount TBR (21/36), Opposites Attract (10/20), A Recipe for Happiness (2/12), Book Scrabble (3/4), Readingoals Readathon (5/9)
Why I read this: netgalley approval
Books TBR=490
39. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake 407 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (8/26), Clear the Shelves (22/36), Mount TBR (22/36), Serial Reader (16/30), A Recipe for Happiness (3/12), Readingoals Readathon (6/9)
Why I read this: it's been on my TBR shelf for a while
Books TBR=489
40. The Complete Sonnets and Poems by William Shakespeare 161 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (11/20), Readingoals Readathon (7/9), Personal Lifetime Challenge (Shakespeare) (1/x)
Why I read this: Happy Birthday/Deathday, Shakespeare!
Books TBR=488
41. Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree 336 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (23/36), Mount TBR (23/36), Serial Reader (17/30), Readingoals Readathon (8/9)
Why I read this: part of the Legends and Lattes series which I've heard a lot about
Books TBR=487
42. Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree 312 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (24/36), Mount TBR (24/36), Opposites Attract (11/20), Serial Reader (18/30), A Recipe for Happiness (5/12), Book Scrabble (4/4), Readingoals Readathon (9/9), Community Favourites (Epic Quest)
Why I read this: part of the Legends and Lattes series
Books TBR=486
43. Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples 169 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (19/30), Virtual Mount TBR (9/24)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=487
44. To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo346 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (9/26), Serial Reader (20/30), A Recipe for Happiness (6/12)
Why I read this: reread, part of the Hundred Kingdoms series
Books TBR=488
45. Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo 416 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (25/36), Mount TBR (25/36), Opposites Attract (12/20), Serial Reader (21/30), A Recipe for Happiness (7/12)
Why I read this: part of the Hundred Kingdoms series
Books TBR=487
46. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 476 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (26/36), Mount TBR (26/36), A Recipe for Happiness (8/12)
Why I read this: it's one of those must read classics
Books TBR=486
47. Something Fabulous by Alexis Hall 363 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (22/30), Mother's & Others (1/4)
Why I read this: for part of the Mothers & Others challenge
Books TBR=485
Books TBR=490 I realised one of my books is actually a collection of works so I'm going to count them as separate
48. The Nicest Girl by Sophie Jo196 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (10/26), Clear the Shelves (27/36), Mount TBR (27/36), Mothers & Others (2/4)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=489
49. Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan 546 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (12/20), Virtual Mount TBR (10/24), Continents/Heritage Readathon (1/x), Seasonal Challenge (Centennial Picks)
Why I read this: for the readathon happening in this group this weekend
Books TBR=489
50. Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping On a Dead Man by Jesse Q Sutanto 384 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (24/30), Continents/Heritage Readathon (2/x), Seasonal Challenge (Heritage Reads)
Why I read this: I love the Vera Wong series, also Netgalley approval
Books TBR=488
51. Until the End of Time by Danielle Steel402 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (28/36), Mount TBR (28/36), Mothers & Others (3/4)
Why I read this: it's been on my TBR pile for a while
Books TBR=487
52. I Love You, I Love You, I Love You by Laura Dockrill 349 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Mothers & Others (4/4)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=486
53. The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley 320 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (11/24), Seasonal Challenge (Armchair Explorer)
Why I read this: Library loan via Borrowbox
Books TBR=489 (shopping spree!)
54. The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit 225 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (11/26), Bookworms Take Shelfies (13/20), Clear the Shelves (29/36), Mount TBR (29/36), The Ties That Bind (1/3)
Why I read this: I've seen the film but never read the book until now
Books TBR=488
55. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna 432 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (12/26), Clear the Shelves (30/36), Mount TBR (30/36), Serial Reader (25/30), A Recipe for Happiness (9/15, goal increased), The Ties That Bind (2/3)
Why I read this: it was my Secret Santa 2024 gift from someone in this group (thank you!)
Books TBR=489
56. Where Shadows Meet by Patrice Campbell368 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (26/30), A Recipe for Happiness (10/15), Seasonal Challenge (Rainbow Reads)
Why I read this: for the Rainbow Reads challenge
Books TBR=488
57. Daughter of Darkness by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr 395 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (31/36), Mount TBR (31/36), Serial Reader (27/30), A Recipe for Happiness (11/15), The Ties That Bind (3/3)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=487
58. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros 758 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (13/26), Bookworms Take Shelfies (14/20), Serial Reader (28/30), A Recipe for Happiness (12/15)
Why I read this: part of the Empyrean series
Books TBR=487
59. Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez 400 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (14/26), Clear the Shelves (32/36), Mount TBR (32/36), Serial Reader (29/30), TBR Jar (5/10), A Recipe for Happiness (13/15)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=486
60. This Story is a Lie by Benjamin Dean100 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages
Why I read this: I saw a copy reduced the other day when grocery shopping
Books TBR=485
61. Fractal Noise by Christopher Paolini 265 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Opposites Attract (13/20), Serial Reader (30/40, goal increased), A Recipe for Happiness (14/15)
Why I read this: wanted to reread the Fractalverse books
Books TBR=487
Books TBR=491 Hello, new netgalley approvals!
62. To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini856 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (15/20), Serial Reader (31/40), A Recipe for Happiness (15/15)
Why I read this: wanted to reread the fractalverse books
Books TBR=491
63. The Starlight Watchmaker by Wren James 119 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (32/40), Virtual Mount TBR (12/24)
Why I read this: library loan via Borrowbox
Books TBR=491
64. The Deep-Sea Duke by Wren James 120 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Serial Reader (33/40), Virtual Mount TBR (13/24)
Why I read this: library loan via Borrowbox
Books TBR=491
65. Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke 549 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (16/20), Clear the Shelves (33/36), Mount TBR (33/36), Serial Reader (34/40), TBR Jar (6/10), How Are You Getting There? (1/3)
Why I read this: a book called Dragon Rider is one of my TBR Jar picks and it turns out I have two different books with that title on my shelves so I'm reading them both!
Books TBR=490
66. Am I Normal Yet? by Holly Bourne 448 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (15/26), Clear the Shelves (34/36), Mount TBR (34/36), Opposites Attract (14/20), Serial Reader (35/40)
Why I read this: to fulfil half of a pair in the Opposites Attract challenge
Books TBR=490
[Book completed yesterday, 9 July, but posting update today]
67. The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill292 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (14/24), Summer Challenge (Poolside Puzzlers)
Why I read this: library loan via Borrowbox
Books TBR=491
Between 17-23 July, I'm going to take part in another Readathon on Tumblr #trcc readathon. Details here: https://www.tumblr.com/thereadingchal...* Read a book that has been on your TBR the longest: Dying to Get Published
68. Dragon Rider by Taran Matharu 568 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (17/20), Clear the Shelves (35/36), Mount TBR (35/36), Serial Reader (36/40), How Are You Getting There? (2/3)
Why I read this: this is my other Dragon Rider book. See comment re book 65 for more detail
Books TBR=490
Hi Rachael! Hope all is well! Looks like your crushing your goal. Kudos! Those Tumblr readathons look like fun. I love readathons but I haven't participated in any outside of Goodreads. I hope you are enjoying lots of amazing books along the way. Happy reading!
JennH wrote: "Hi Rachael! Hope all is well! Looks like your crushing your goal. Kudos! Those Tumblr readathons look like fun. I love readathons but I haven't participated in any outside of Goodreads. I hope yo..."
Thank you! Hope your challenges are going well and that you have enjoyed every book you have read so far!
69. The Odyssey by Homer532 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Bookworms Take Shelfies (18/30), Clear the Shelves (36/48, goal increased), Mount TBR (36/48, goal increased), TBR Jar (7/10), How Are You Getting There? (3/3)
Why I read this: it's one of those must read classics
Books TBR=489
70. Animal Farm by George Orwell 120 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (15/24), Through the Decades Readathon (Team Tome Travellers) (1/x), Summer Challenge (Challenge Faves)
Why I read this: I've heard a lot about it
Books TBR=489
71. Dying to Get Published by Judy Fitzwater 240 pages
⭐⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (37/48), Mount TBR (37/48), Serial Reader (37/40), Rage on the Page (1/6), TRCC 10th Anniversary Readathon (1/x), Through the Decades Readathon (Team Tome Travellers) (2/x)
Why I read this: I bought a copy years ago when I was into learning about publishing and have finally read it
Books TBR=488
72. Pollyanna by Eleanor H Porter 333 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, A-Z Women Authors (16/26), Clear the Shelves (38/48), Mount TBR (38/48), Serial Reader (38/40), TBR Jar (8/10), Rage on the Page (2/6), Through the Decades Readathon (Team Tome Travellers) (3/x)
Why I read this: I knew the story but hadn't actually read the book until now
Books TBR=488
73. The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso 384 pages
⭐⭐⭐ with review
Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Clear the Shelves (39/48), Mount TBR (39/48), Serial Reader (39/40), Through the Decades Readathon (Team Tome Travellers) (4/x)
Why I read this: Netgalley approval
Books TBR=487
2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Secret Commonwealth (other topics)La Belle Sauvage (other topics)
The Count of Monte Cristo (other topics)
The Next Always (other topics)
Celestial Monsters (other topics)
More...
227 pages
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Challenges: Let's Turn Pages, Virtual Mount TBR (8/24), Readingoals Readathon (3/9)
Why I read this: it's my Frankenstein themed pick for the Readingoals Readathon
Books TBR=492