Snakes out of the Box: Team 4

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

🔐 Welcome to Your Box.

The lock is real. The box is closed. But the two of you? You have the keys.

This is your personal team thread. Each week, you’ll receive a new reading prompt. Each of you will choose a book, read it, and post your reflection here. Once both reflections are posted, a key turns—and the box reveals a message just for you.

You must complete all 12 keyholes to open the box in Week 13.

You can use this thread for:
🔐 Weekly reflections
🔐 Talking with your partner
🔐 Celebrating when a new lock opens

Your first prompt arrives Sunday at 6pm CT. You’ll know it when you see it.

Until then: get to know each other. Decide who’s reading what.
And whatever you do… don’t open it yet.

📖 Weekly Check-In Format
When you finish your book, post the info below in this thread to let your partner know you're ready. Once both of you have posted your reflections, one of you should check in on the main thread to unlock your keyhole.

• Week: (e.g., Week 1)
• Book Title:
• Author:
• Page Count:
• Reflection: Your response to the week’s prompt.

🔎 Weekly Check-In Thread
This is how your keyhole gets unlocked.
No check-in, no click.

How to check in:
Just post your team name and a link to your team thread.

Example:
Team: The Locked Hearts
Thread: [insert link here]

Once I see your check-in, your message will appear in your thread—if you’ve earned it.

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

Team 4:
🔐Teresa
🗝️ Sally

[Sally906]

I’m here 😀

Need to think of a team name

Suggestions:
Snakes out of the box
Just try and lock us out
Solver squad

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Oh, I like Snakes Out of the Box! Sounds devious.

[Sally906]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Oh, I like Snakes Out of the Box! Sounds devious."

Ok - Snakes out of the box it is

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

I can't wait until we get our first prompt!

Hope I didn't just curse us, lol.

[Sally906]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "I can't wait until we get our first prompt!

Hope I didn't just curse us, lol."

We’ll find out on Sunday your time as starts on the 7th - unless the task is posted earlier 😀

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

6 and a half hours to go!

[Sally906]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "6 and a half hours to go!"

😂😂😂😂

Already the 8th here - finished breakfast and on my way out for a morning of Mahjong!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

🔐 Week 1 Prompt: What You Bring With You
Some locks don’t need a key—they open for what you carry.
Choose a book that reflects something you bring to this partnership:
a personality trait, a past experience, a strength, a flaw—anything that shapes how you read and relate.

Each of you will choose your own book and explain what you're bringing to the box.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

I thought our prompt was going to be posted here but it turns out it's in the sign up/updates post. Glad I snooped around :)

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Not sure what I'll bring to this yet. I can't remember if we can count books we've already started. I'll find out tomorrow. I'm ready to sleep.

[Sally906]

Ok - have followed the updates page so will know when the next prompt is posted.

I think we can use books started before but must be finished after.

So the prompt is “What you bring with you”

Not 100% sure of process yet - but my guess is my chosen book must represent me and what I bring to this team.

Which my current read does in bucketloads.

[Sally906]

Completion Post

Week 1
Prompt: What You Bring With You
Book read: The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur
Date completed: 08/09/25
Page count: 354
Reflection: I bring stubbornness (I don’t give up), a disinclination to follow the norms (hate rule and try to get around them) loyalty (a team member - and expect other team members to be so) and empathy(ability to understand the feelings of others - you’re stressed? I get it, just tell me). In other words, I’m a perfectly team mate.

I picked this book because the MC, Bella, portrays all these characteristics that reflect me as she works out the circumstances around her twin’s believed suicide.

[Sally906]

No idea if this is what she is looking for.

I do know we have a week - so we don’t have to post our completion until Saturday - so don’t feel rushed 😀

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Sally906 wrote: "No idea if this is what she is looking for.

I do know we have a week - so we don’t have to post our completion until Saturday - so don’t feel rushed 😀"

Thanks for the reminder about the due date. I had forgotten! I should finish my book tonight with any luck!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Sally906 wrote: "Completion Post

Week 1
Prompt: What You Bring With You
Book read: The Lightning Ridge Ladies by Fiona McArthur
Da..."

I love this!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Completion

Week 1
Prompt: What You Bring With You
Book Read: by Nora Roberts
Date Completed: 9/9/25
Page count: 464
Reflection: Well, I chose this book because Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors, and I love this cover. It has colors and vibe of autumn, which is my favorite season. I love that looking at this picture, I can imagine the smell of the wet ground and the fallen leaves, and sound of my feet falling on the damp ground after a rainfall. I can feel the chill in the air and it makes me shiver and excited to get inside to have hot cocoa, so I can continue admiring the weather from a window, while I sit in pajamas and covered up with a cozy blanket! (And another book nearby LOL)

So, the cover of this is basically me and my love of autumn!

[Sally906]

I love Autumn too - we have just started spring with lots of trees starting to blossom. Love the blossoms as much as I do the orange and red Autumn trees. I live on the outskirts of Toowoomba and we are having our annual Carnival of Flowers starting on Saturday.

We will head in to cruise the gardens (Queens Park and Laurel Banks) tomorrow morning before the big crowds move in - then have a spot of lunch before we come home.

https://tcof.com.au/

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Sally906 wrote: "I love Autumn too - we have just started spring with lots of trees starting to blossom. Love the blossoms as much as I do the orange and red Autumn trees. I live on the outskirts of Toowoomba and w..."

That sounds lovely, Sally! It sounds like such a cool and fun event! Have you ever gone to all 4 weekends??

I love spring blooms, too. I loved spring more when I grew up in Michigan, where we had a colder and longer winter than what we have here in Texas. Now I crave the chill of autumn and the bite of winter.

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

🗝️ Week 1 Response
This box doesn’t open on its own.
It opened because you showed up as yourself.

What’s one thing from your book you hope your partner always associates with you?

Every keyhole opens to conversation. Take this prompt and respond to each other—no more steps required.

[Sally906]

MN Lisa wrote: "🗝️ Week 1 Response
This box doesn’t open on its own.
It opened because you showed up as yourself.

What’s one thing from your book you hope your partner always associates with you?

Every keyhole o..."

Loyalty

[Sally906]

Week 2 Prompt: Judge This Book

Some locks don’t care what’s inside—only how it looks.
Choose a book based solely on the cover.
No blurbs. No reviews. No second guesses. Just vibes

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

MN Lisa wrote: "🗝️ Week 1 Response
This box doesn’t open on its own.
It opened because you showed up as yourself.

What’s one thing from your book you hope your partner always associates with you?

Every keyhole o..."

I hope she takes from my book that I love cozy things and will associate cozy things with me :)

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Oh, this is an easy task. I'm actually reading a book that works for this.

[Sally906]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Oh, this is an easy task. I'm actually reading a book that works for this."

So am I - but it’s a massive 480 pages! Damn enticing cover! 😂😂

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Sally906 wrote: "ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Oh, this is an easy task. I'm actually reading a book that works for this."

So am I - but it’s a massive 480 pages! Damn enticing cover! 😂😂"

hahaha!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Completion

Week 2 Prompt: Judge This Book

Book: by Kristin Koval
Date Finished: 9/17/25
Page Count: 320
Reflection: I love the stark atmosphere of this cover. I love the white of the trees against the stark blue background. It looks like what winter feels like. It makes me feel like this book is going to be a bit harsh and unrelenting, like a chilled winter's evening.

[Sally906]

Completion Post

Week 2
Prompt: Choose a book based solely on the cover
Book read: The Road Trip by Tricia Stringer
Date completed: 19/09/25
Page count: 480
Reflection: I loved the cover - I had to pick between two ARCs so without reading the blurbs I picked this one - loved the beach, ocean, sunset, caravan and the two chairs ready for a chat. The other book had a creepy monster head and glowing read eyes - UGH

[Sally906]

Checked us in 😀

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

I love this cover, Sally! I would definitely be drawn to this one. And I’ll be adding it to my TBR based entirely on that cover lol.

Thanks for checking us in!

[Sally906]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Reflection: I love the stark atmosphere of this cover. I love the white of the trees against the stark blue background. It looks like what winter feels like. It makes me feel like this book is going to be a bit harsh and unrelenting, like a chilled winter's evening...."

Was heading to bed when I posted last night so didn’t comment on you r reflection.

Your cover absolutely covers the atmosphere of winter - well one of them. It’s the trees that add the bleakness - if they were green with a blue sky the cover “story” would be quite different

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

That's such a great way to put it -- bleakness! The book was bleak! But, it was readable.

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

🗝️ Week 2 Response
Looks can be deceiving.
But sometimes… they’re not.

If your partner had chosen your cover instead, how do you think their reading experience would differ from yours?

Every keyhole opens to conversation. Take this prompt and respond to each other—no more steps required.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Sally, I definitely think you would not have enjoyed my book if you’d selected that cover instead. It was pretty depressing and I know you prefer happier books. At least, I think you do. 😆

[Sally906]

Yep avoiding depressing books - and thrillers - and hard core violence - anything negative that could be real.

The world is such a scary place at the moment that I want to escape into fiction and not bring the scary stuff in with me.

[Sally906]

Week 3 Prompt: Your Missing Piece

Some locks stay closed because something’s missing.
Choose a book that fills a gap in your reading life—something you’ve been avoiding, neglecting, or meaning to try.
Even better if it’s outside your comfort zone

[Sally906]

Ha!

Not reading a book outside of my comfort zone for reasons mentioned in my previous statement (message 36) - in fact it will be “even better” for me if I don’t!

So off to look for a book that is going to fill a gap in my reading life - this will be hard as I don’t feel I have any gaps!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Hahaha, Sally! I love that “even better” part. Hehe.

I forgot all about looking for a new prompt for this. Thanks for staying on that!

[Sally906]

Completion Post

Week 3
Prompt: Choose a book that fills a gap in your reading life - something you’ve been avoiding, neglecting, or meaning to try

Book read: The Warrior Priest by C.J. Archer
Date completed: 22/09/25
Page count: 288
Reflection: I wouldn’t say I have a gap in my reading life. Every thing I read is very much wanted and if I don’t read a particular book or genre it is because I don’t need it in my life. But I have been actively avoiding current setting books where an evil man has taken over (or trying to take over) a country/the world and is going to rule/ruling with fear and violence. In this book the MC’s uncle is just such a man. But because it is a fantasy setting it is more palatable to my soul to read about a world where people live in fear of being arrested and tortured at a despot’s whim because they are fantasy people not real. The book also gave me hope because the fantasy evil man got his come uppance just as all real evil men have in human history.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Completion Post

Week 3 Prompt: Your Missing Piece. Choose a book that fills a gap in your reading life - something you’ve been avoiding, neglecting, or meaning to try

Book Read: by T. Greenwood
Date finished: 9/21/25
Page count: 306
How it fits: I usually avoid books like this, where couples are split up and have a child and there is some mystery related to some trauma and usually that's the reason for the split. Those types of books can be really maudlin or annoying because I just want to slap them and tell them to just grow up and make it work (if they're clearly still in love and should be together). This was kind of like that but I coped, lol.

I definitely do not feel any more enlightened or anything for having read this but it was a very fast read and counts toward my yearly goal, lol.

[Sally906]

I’ve checked us in 😜

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

Sally906 wrote: "I’ve checked us in 😜"

Thanks! Totally slipped my mind to do that. Between school and work, I've got almost no brain cells for book challenge stuff LOL.

[Sally906]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Thanks! Totally slipped my mind to do that. Between school and work, I've got almost no brain cells for book challenge stuff LOL."

😂😂😂 - no worries, I guessed that

[MN Lisa, Mistress of Mayhem with a Method]

🗝️ Week 3 Response
This key slipped into place like it had been waiting for you.
Maybe the stories we resist are the ones we need most.

What did your partner’s choice reveal about what they might be ready for now—even if they weren’t before?

[Sally906]

What did your partner’s choice reveal about what they might be ready for now—even if they weren’t before?

I’m not sure if Teresa learned anything new, but successfully confirmed to herself what types of tropes she doesn’t like. She demonstrated her strength in inflicting herself with an unwanted story line just to keep the reading them on track!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

oooh, I love that! I inflicted myself! That's perfect, Sally!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa), Bibliotherapist]

What did your partner’s choice reveal about what they might be ready for now—even if they weren’t before?

I believe Sally cemented her desire to NOT read books that challenge her senses with horrible people getting away with horrible stuff. It confirmed that she is okay with reading about terrible people in the realm of fantasy, as those people aren't real and are often exaggerated versions of the truth. Plus, they tend to get their comeuppance in fantasy, which can help make the books more palatable.

[Sally906]

That’s pretty much me 😀👍

[Sally906]

Week 4 Prompt: Pick a Trope, Any Trope

This lock is a little more dramatic than the others. It wants a twist.
Choose a book with a trope you either love, hate, or can’t stop reading.
Enemies to lovers. Found family. Secret royalty. You know the type.

Your partner has to guess how you feel about it