October 2025 - Unmasking the Masquerade

[Elena]

This October, it's time to unmask after the Halloween party that everyone has been invited to. Behind every costume lies a truth, behind every grin a shadow, and behind every story, a secret waiting to step into the light.

This challenge is about masks, the ones we wear, the ones we inherit, and the ones that fall off when we least expect it. Whether your book hides its truth behind glamour, deception, or denial, this is the challenge to pull the threads and see what’s underneath.

Sign-ups are open until November 29th, 2025
The challenge is open until January 31st, 2026

The Challenge
1. Please copy the tasks in the below message and post them in this thread. No new thread will be created.
2. This challenge is for 4 books. Pick one task from each round — for each completed task, you will receive 2 points. Additionally, you will receive 10 points for completing the challenge.
3. There are no skips available for this challenge.
4. Put the completion post below each book completed in your message:
Title:
Author:
Date Completed:
Task:
How it fits:
5. If you don’t have a personal point account thread yet, please request one.
6. Only books completed from October 29th, 2025, will be accepted.

When the party’s over and the masks are scattered on the floor, all that’s left is the truth, however messy it is. This October, we read to remember: even in disguise, we’re always revealing ourselves.

Welcome to Unmasking the Masquerade! No one here is who they seem to be. 🎭🕯️

[Elena]

The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).

[Elena]

Participants

[Grainne]

1/4
The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath Vianne
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).
Title: Vianne
Author: Joanne Harris
Date Completed: 01.11.25
Task: b. Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
How it fits: After her mother passes away, she must rebuild her life on her own and moves from the NY to France where she starts anew.

[Nistha]

02 / 4

The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - Andrew lives behind a facade of perfect husband
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective. We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad - Aerius explores identity as he transitions from bunny to human
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).

[Fiona]

XX/4
The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath Vianne
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).

[Claire]

XX/4
The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath Vianne
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).

[Jasmine's]

1 / 4

The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).
Title:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).
Title:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.
Title:
Author:
Date completed:
Task:
How it fits:

The Aftermath
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).
Title: One Golden Summer
Author: Carley Fortune
Date completed: 29/10/25
Task: a
How it fits: Charlie reveals a secret rift between him and his brother.

[Catsalive]

Unmasking the Masquerade
0/4

The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath
a) Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret.
b) Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
c) Pick a story with a main character that cannot handle the consequences of their actions (your interpretation).

[KayLynn]

1/4 completed!

The Costume Party
a) Read a book where a character hides behind a façade, either literal or emotional.
b) Choose a story about role play, performance, or living a double life.
c) Pick a book where appearance is everything (your interpretation).

Mirror, Mirror
a) Read a book with an unreliable narrator.
b) Choose a story that explores identity, self-deception, or fractured perspective.
c) Pick a book that feels like holding up a mirror (your interpretation).

The Reveal
a) Read a story where a long-kept secret is finally exposed.
b) Choose a book with a twist that changes everything (your interpretation).
c) Pick a story where someone (or something) is unmasked, either literally or figuratively.

The Aftermath
Book: Confessions of a Christmasholic
Author: Joss Wood
Date completed: October 31, 2025
Task: Read a story that explores the consequences of a revelation or of revealing a secret. & Choose a book where characters must rebuild or redefine themselves after everything changes.
How it fits: Gus's wife dies and he finds out their relationship wasn't what he thought it was. He has to rebuild his life with his two kids and deal with the aftermath of her betrayal.