2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Still wrapping up 2015!

Good luck with your challenge! I hope 2016 is an awesome reading year for you.

1 of 42 The Portable Veblen

Congrats on finishing your first book in 2016!

2 of 42 In a Dark, Dark Wood

3 of 42 No Man's Nightingale

My review of The Portable Veblen (#1 on my list) for The Dallas Morning News, or how I got past the quirks and learned to embrace the charm.

http://bit.ly/1PILqaN

4 of 42: Sunset City: A Novel

Whoa, that's super cool that you write reviews for a real publication. How did you get started doing that?

Hi, Cassandra. I was on staff at The Dallas Morning News as an editor for many years. My reviewing grew out of that relationship. I've read some great authors I probably wouldn't have found otherwise and get a chance to encourage others to pick up their books. And every time one of my reviews is published, I see a little uptick in the sales of my own books. Win-win.

That's awesome!

5 of 42 The Translation of Love

This book is being released April 5 – I received an advance copy. Here's my review on Goodreads.

I think there's a Goodreads giveaway running through April 5. Sign up!

6 of 42 Enchanted Islands

This book is being released in May. I received an advance copy. Here's my review on Goodreads.

7 of 42 As the Poppies Bloomed

8 of 42 The True Tails of Baker and Taylor: The Library Cats Who Left Their Pawprints on a Small Town . . . and the World

This book publishes May 3; I received an advance copy. Here's my review on Goodreads.

9 of 42 The Defense

This book is released in May. I received an advance copy.

10 of 42 Blood Defense

This book will be released in May. I received an advance copy.

11 of 42 Early Warning

My review of Sunset City: A Novel, which was #4 on my list, for The Dallas Morning News.

Here's my review of The Defense and Blood Defense (Nos. 9 and 10 on my list) for The Dallas Morning News.

12 of 42: All These Perfect Strangers

13 of 42: Eligible

Loved this so much. If you like Austen at all, read it!

14 of 42 The Shining Girls

15 of 42 Golden Age

16 of 42 I Let You Go

My review of All These Perfect Strangers, which was No. 12 on my list.

17 of 42: The Children's Crusade

Nothing like going on vacation to get back on pace with the reading challenge! Now I'm only one book behind schedule.

18 of 42: The Trouble with Lexie

This book is set for release later in June; I received an advance review copy.

19 of 42: To the Bright Edge of the World

This book will be released in August; I received an early review copy. I'll link my review when it publishes.

20 of 42: The Last Anniversary

21 of 42: Wilde Lake

22 of 42: Missing, Presumed

I'm a big fan of this one, which will be released in the U.S. on June 28. I got an early copy. You can find my review here.

23 of 42: Barack Obama: The Story

24 of 42: Good as Gone

Got an early review copy of this one, which will be released in August. I'll post my review when it publishes.

25 of 42: Off the Grid

Here's my review of Good as Gone, which was No. 24 on my list.

26 of 42: The Underground Railroad

I got an early review copy of this one. Everyone's going to be reading it and talking about it – it's that good.

27 of 42: American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst

I followed this in the newspapers as a kid. So interesting to read Jeffrey Toobin's take on it as an adult.

My review of To The Bright Edge of the World, which was No. 19 on my list.

You seem to be right on track Shawna! Great job.

28 of 42: The Woman in Cabin 10

29 of 42: Before the Fall

Did this one as an audiobook on a long car trip. That counts, right?

No. 30 of 42: West of Sunset

No. 31 of 42: A Time of Torment

No. 32 of 42: A Hero of France

Here's my Goodreads review of A Time of Torment, which was No. 31 on my list.

No. 33 of 42: The Trespasser

So, so good.

No. 34 of 42: Commonwealth

A great book for anyone who grew up in a blended family. (I'm guessing -- I didn't.)

No. 35 of 42: Night School

Sometimes you just want to be distracted

No. 36 of 42: The Accident

A diverting thriller if you're in the mood to be distracted. And I am.