2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Hello Members!

With all the new Moderators coming on in the last few months, and all the new members, we thought it was time to formally introduce ourselves.

Hi, I am Kadijah Michelle! I am a Muslim, Mommy, Wife, Life-long Learner. I love Allah, my family, reading, yarn crafts, cooking, and the internet. I live in Pennsylvania with my family. We love to travel and have been all over the world. I have four children ranging in ages from 9 to 19. My oldest joined the Army in July 2018 and will be living in Korea for the next two years (I couldn't be more proud!). For the last few years, I have been a stay at home mom, and I've been going to college forever! Raising kids often causes me to hit the pause button, but this year I will finally finish a social science degree. Next up, Penn State!

I have been a member of Goodreads since 2012 according to the site (but it's actually been longer because I was hacked that year and had to make all new social sites with a new email). I became a Goodreads Librarian in 2013 so that I could update English translations of Arabic/Urdu books.
I joined the Reading Challenge Group in 2014 and became a Moderator for the group a year later in 2015. My main interest in becoming a Moderator was to help create Monthly and Quarterly Challenges, but for 2018, I have passed the torch to Kristin and Rachael. Now I am in charge of our group's organization. That is why every month, you get to see me wearing my shades (a girl's got to have prescription sunglasses for reading in the car!) in your messages box with the Monthly Newsletter :)

I love to read! So much so my husband has created a mini-library for me in our home, so I can store my many favorite books. It's so hard for me to explain my reading style because it's so eclectic.
First, because of my deep faith, I am always reading about Islam. My Islamic library brings me peace when all you see in the media is "Islamic Chaos."
Second, the last few years I have been discovering the classics. Some are quite wonderful like the ones written by women when women were not considered clever enough to write a novel. Seriously, don't mess with the Bronte Sisters!
Third, the celebrity read memoirs on Audible always makes me happy!
And finally, I call these comfort reads, others call them your supermarket paperbacks, these are the are your Grishams, Garwoods, Roberts, and Browns. These are books that read as easily as a cup of tea goes down.

Greetings, All! My name is Mary Pat and I am a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a writer, a reader, a traveler and a lover of nature who lives in Maine in the United States. I am also a professional geek who serves as the Information Systems Manager for a wonderful ophthalmology practice. I share my home with my 21-year son who is attending college. I also have a stepson who still calls me mom and is an amazing father to my two beautiful granddaughters! Of course, I cannot forget to mention our very mischievous eight-year-old cat named Dash. He is all black and was born on Halloween. We got him for Christmas and named him after one of Santa’s reindeer. It turned out to be very appropriate as he loves to “dash” around the house!

My father instilled a love of reading in me at an early age and taught me that if you can read, you can do anything in this lifetime. I read avidly for most of my life. At some point that changed, and I was only reading what I had to for work. Enter Goodreads! I joined in 2013 but did not actively participate until I joined this group in 2015. Initially, I was quite enamored with the challenges and became quite competitive! I did almost all the challenges in my first year! More importantly, I was back to reading often and for pleasure! I made new friendships with members who shared similar interests and fell easily into the general comradery of the group.

Sometimes starting something new when your life is already brimming can take away from the enjoyment of the activity. Here, I felt no pressure whatsoever to do anything other than what I chose. No one was going to “punish” me or “dock” my reading list if I did not complete a challenge! The relaxed atmosphere motivated me more than ever! I was digging deep into my favorites – science fiction, fantasy, contemporary, poetry, and some classics – and finding new favorites in non-fiction, historical fiction and more classics.

I joined the Welcome Committee in 2015 and became a moderator in 2016. I was honored to join the team and grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a group that has given me so much!

Hello, I'm Rachael, and I live in the UK. I've been an avid reader since I was very young and am rarely without a book. I have a degree in English Language and Linguistics, and one day I hope to be working in publishing. If I'm not reading, I'm probably completing cross stitch patterns or watching Disney films and Doctor Who.

I've been a member of Goodreads since May 2012 but only became really active in 2014 after it was mentioned in one of my university lectures. I joined this group in 2016 because I was looking for a friendly place to share my bookish thoughts. I also felt that the wide range of challenges would give me more motivation to complete books. I have since come up and led several challenge ideas and even led discussions of group reads. In December 2017, I became a Group Moderator. I lead some yearly challenges, do a bit of cheerleading and query answering, but my main responsibility is to help with the creation of Monthly and Quarterly Challenges.

My favourite books are constantly changing as I find even more good books to read. There will always be a special place for Harry Potter, His Dark Materials and the Inheritance Cycle. I'll read pretty much anything but I do tend to go more for fantasy or sci-fi. I probably prefer physical books but I do have a lot of e-books which are great when you run out of space on bookshelves!

Hi, I'm Blagica! I am living in New Jersey but was born in Macedonia in Europe and moved to the states when I was six. I am a bookworm and a movie fan. I have loved to read and write since I was about nine. I went to college for Psychology and feel like I missed my calling because my nose is always in a book. I work in a college admissions office reaching out to high school students but have a long-term goal to work in a field where I am advocate for people with disabilities. My other hobbies include, movies trying to cook, spending time with my two-year-old niece and eight-year-old nephew and recently going to the gym and writing poetry. 

I have been on Goodreads since 2014 and this group is actually the first group I joined when I started looking for a place to fit in. I love challenges and interacting with others. I think I joined every challenge that this group had when I first joined and this group has help me expand not only my TBR but my love for other genres. I loved romance and now I love almost everything. I started as a challenge leader sometimes, then joined the welcome committee and am so happy to be a part of this great Moderator Team. My favorite aspect of being a Moderator and a member of this group is seeing what you all read and cheering you all on along the way. I am your Marathon Challenge leader and all-around book friend. I am not very tech savvy but have no issue helping, cheering and putting smiles on people’s faces. I love suggestions and finding new authors. 

I love to read! Recently I have been on a thriller or a paranormal romance kick but I will read anything. My degree in college actually helped me fall in love with true crime and memories and I read way too much. I read over 200 books almost every year and don’t really have a favorite book I just love to be lost in a new adventure. I don’t have a preference about e-book audiobook or physical book and usually have one of each going on in a week. My favorite author is Stephen King and he is what usually gets me out of my slumps. 
This quote by Stephen King “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” Is my favorite quote because I think everyone needs a little magic. 

Hi there, I am Ilona! I was born and still live in the Netherlands, with Dutch as my first language. I have a Master's degree in Molecular Life Sciences, and am currently a PhD student in Biochemistry, so I guess that means that I am real scientist now! :) When I started my education at university, I decided that I would start reading all the books that I read for fun in English to improve my language skills. This not only helped me in my education, but later also introduced me to English literature. Books like To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, and Little Women came to my attention, and this group helped me to discover them! When I am not reading, I like to bake, cook, shop, watch tv-series, or simply spend quality time with family and friends.

I discovered Goodreads in August 2014 and found this group in December of the same year. I was not really active in the first years, preferring to read discussions rather than to participate in them. This gradually changed when I applied to be a member of the Welcome Committee. When I first became a member of this group, I really appreciated the welcoming message that I got from Jodi. It made me feel welcome in this community here on the internet, and even though the group has become much larger lately, I think it is important to keep this personal touch, and that is why I became a Moderator and am now organizing the Welcome Committee.

I have been a bookworm ever since I learned to read. Every Wednesday afternoon my mom dropped me at the library (while she went grocery shopping next door), and I could pick new books to read that week. My favourite genre was and still is Historical Fiction, but I also like to read Classics, Fiction, Fantasy, YA, and some Sci-Fi, Mystery and Non-Fiction. This group, and in particular the Buddy Reads, help me to read more books every year!

Hi! I'm Disa. You all know me as Winter, not because I didn't want to use my real name, but I have used Winter on the internet for years and by the time I became a mod that's how you all knew me. So, I decided to keep it. I'm from Norway and live on the countryside with my fiancé and our cat Naminé. When I'm not reading I am probably gaming. Apart from that, I love to do jigsaw puzzles and cook, particularly vegan food.

I have been a member of Goodreads since 2010 and in the beginning it was just a place to track books. Then I discovered this group and as I love to track and make a goal out of pretty much anything I do, I immediately joined. Soon I was immersed in a ton of challenges. There's many groups on Goodreads that have challenges and a community, but what made me stick with this group was the relaxed atmosphere and lovely people. I joined the modteam in 2015 around the time Kadijah Michelle did, and my main responsibilities are group reads. I also lead some yearly challenges.

I have read as long as I can remember. I always have a book with me wherever I go. There's not many genres I won't read, but I'm more of a fiction reader than non-fiction reader, and I seldom read crime. My favorite genres would probably be fantasy, sci fi and classics. But my mood changes often and this group has made me read a more varied selection of books. I have even found books I love from genres I never thought to read. After joining this group, my reading has at least doubled, and I'm discovering new favorites every year. My all time favorite is probably The Clan of the Cave Bear just because I go back to it again and again and am hopelessly fascinated by a time without machines (as much as I am addicted to them).

Hi, I'm Kara! I'm originally from Hawaii, but I now live in Michigan with my husband and son. I'm in financial services for Stryker, a medical device company. I love my family, I love my job, and I love reading. I also get to travel quite a bit for work and for pleasure which is awesome.

I've been on Goodreads since January 2012, part of this group since February 2012, and a moderator since April 2012. I was drawn in by the challenges, and it's been so fun to watch this group grow. When I joined, there were a couple hundred members--it's crazy to see that we have over 16,000 now! As a moderator, my main responsibility is TBR twins, and I also run Secret Santa. I used to do a lot more with the group, but with my professional responsibilities ramping up and having a toddler, I had to step back quite a bit. I'm so thankful for the other wonderful mods who have stepped up!

I'll read almost anything, but my favorites are science fiction, fantasy, memoirs/biographies, and business nonfiction. The book that got me hooked on science fiction is Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, which I read in seventh grade (thank you, Mr. Earle!) and is one of my favorites to this day.

Hi, I'm Megan! I'm a life-long reader and learner. I live in South Florida and am one of those rare native Floridians. I'm a criminal defense attorney and currently work with juveniles. I've been working to increase access to books in our local detention center - more diverse, newer, and diverse genres. It's a way for me to combine my love of books with my professional duties.

I've been a goodreads member for over a decade, and I've been a member of this group for about five years, I think. I love the challenges! My TBR is massive, so I love having challenges that make me mix it up, get out of my reading comfort zone, and reading different and more diverse voices. And I'm a naturally competitive person (with myself mostly), so getting that number of books read every month makes me happy:)

Reading is in the DNA of the women in my family. Going back as far as I can trace, my matriarchs have been readers. I was lucky to be raised in a home filled with books, and my mom indulged my weekly library trips where I brought home bags of books. I read through the entire Newberry winner list by the time I was in 5th grade. When my 5th grade teacher realized I had read all the books on the curriculum list before the first day of school, she finally realized I was smart. I love learning about new things, new voices, new places, new perspectives. Even if I'm not a fan of the book in the end, if I've learned anything in the reading, then it was not a waste. My favorite books are The Westing Game by Ellen Raskins (the first time I read it was ok to be a smart girl), Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (the first time I read it was ok to be an independent woman), and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (because it's my life's work). I look forward to continue reading with all of you!

Hello, fellow book lovers!
My name is oshizu. Born in Japan, I've since lived two thirds of my life in California and one third in Japan. I formerly taught Japanese literature and culture, but left academia several years ago. While very outgoing within this group and a certain MMORPG (though I don't play much these days), I also tend to be private due to a past incident of cyber-bulling. And, yes, I'm very much a geek.

I've always loved reading but only joined Goodreads last summer, after my friend Regina Lemoine first introduced me to the concept of reading challenges. I 'discovered" and joined this group soon after, attracted by the variety of challenges, the friendly community of mods and group members, and the all-women Mod Team.
This year, I've signed up for all of this group's yearly challenges just as, you know, an experiment. Never again!
Since March, I've been a Welcome Committee member.
This group offers such a great community! Even as its membership grows, I hope it will retain its warm and friendly atmosphere. I've met so many wonderful people in this group!!!

As a child, after being sent to bed, I used to love to stay up late, reading books with a flashlight under the covers. These days, I wonder if that secret "vice" is the cause for my poor vision today. #noregrets
As a person of color, I gravitate toward books by authors of color. I enjoy, too, learning about unfamiliar cultures by reading authors around the world. My favorite genres are literary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, and mysteries. In the past few years, I've also started reading fantasy.
Looking forward to chatting with you all on the challenge threads!

Hello! My name is Sarah, or SarahKat. I’ve lived in Wyoming my whole life, currently with a husband, a son (8), and a daughter on the way. I’m not “outdoorsy” like a lot of people here are and since choices of entertainment are basically go outside or read, I read. I work as the director of a program that helps coal miners with their health and legal claims in 4 states here in the western U.S. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, which is still an interest of mine even though I’m not utilizing the degree for my job. When I’m not reading, there a few television shows I like to watch, I go to the gym, occasionally paint, and usually around December when all my reading challenges are done, I’ll binge World of Warcraft for a month.

I’ve been on Goodreads since 2013, but wasn’t active until 2017, which is when I joined this group. I had gotten out of the habit of reading for a while and knew I wanted to read more, but didn’t know where to start. I joined a bunch of groups at once, but this is the one that stuck. I loved this group because the group reads, buddy reads, and challenges all gave me a really good starting point to grow my TBR, and get me reading outside of my comfort zone. I’ve been helping with the welcome committee in this group since December of last year.

I learned to read at a very young age and have loved it ever since. My dad taught me to read on things like Walt Whitman and Shakespeare. My mom brought home the first 2 Harry Potter books when I was in 5th grade thinking they might be fun. Throughout my schooling years I read a lot of fantasy, but have since broadened my horizons and I will read pretty much anything. It’s hard to pick a favorite but some things I enjoy re-reading (which I rarely do) are A Series of Unfortunate Events (best read aloud to a precocious child), Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and A Song of Ice and Fire. I am constantly finding other favorite books, some of which I never would have read without this group!

Hi, I’m Trisha! I’m originally from India and now live in Malaysia with my husband. I have an Engineering degree in Biotechnology but have now moved into the IT domain, and currently work as an Application Development Team Lead at Accenture. At my workplace, I run a Book Club for women, especially working mothers since they seem to be the most stressed employees and as a staunch supporter of women’s rights, I’m always eager to make our professional lives easier and happier. Apart from my huge appetite for pizzas and reading, I also like writing poetry, travelling and photography; my husband and I run a travel photography blog where we document our travels. When not reading or travelling, I could be watching a TV series on Netflix or playing Pokemon Go.

I created this account with GoodReads in 2017, but this is my second one since I remember using GoodReads in 2012 when I was living in the UK alone. Not used to solo-living, this application was a lifesaver for those few years! However, I got active only once I joined this group a year ago. I started with participating in monthly challenges but eventually realized that my already hoarded books didn’t always fit in, and then decided to plunge into buddy reads. Believe me, I’m not disappointed!

Most of my earliest childhood memories revolve around books. My mother being an avid reader herself, stimulated the habit of reading in her two girls. Weekend visits to the local library was a mandatory ritual in my family. My father gave us a small amount of pocket money every month which we saved to buy more books! I recall vividly that my school library was full of vintage classics which till-date remains my favourite genre. I am also a Potterhead and can read Harry Potter books repeatedly. My 2020 reading goal is to read more works by Asian authors, particularly Indian because I feel Indian Literature despite being brilliant remains underrepresented. Cheers to more years of reading together!

Hello, fellow readers! I was born and raised in South Carolina, and moved to Atlanta for work shortly after graduating college. I eventually left the workforce, and spent time as a stay-at-home mom, homeschool teacher, Girl Scout troop leader, and day camp business manager, but my youngest has now graduated, so I've given up most of those roles. I currently live in rural north Georgia with my husband, two of our daughters, one small dog and one cat. Our middle daughter recently moved out on her own and took her cats with her. Besides reading, I also enjoy crocheting, sewing, birding, and playing word games.

I joined Goodreads back in 2014 on the advice of a book club friend. I tried a handful of groups in the beginning, burned myself out by trying too much across too many groups, and then settled quite comfortably into this wonderful group. I try to participate in all the challenges to some extent, and like to seek out books that fit prompts for multiple challenges. It’s like a scavenger hunt to me! My only regret about Goodreads is that I didn’t join sooner. So many untracked books. *sigh*

I’ve been an avid reader since way back. My format preference is audio from libraries, with large-print or Kindle tying for second place. I read so many genres that it has become difficult to find a good candidate for prompts like “read a genre that’s new to you.” I primarily gravitate toward historical fiction, mysteries and thrillers, but also read non-fiction, YA, classics, and more. I credit this group and its challenges for greatly diversifying my reads over the last few years. I feel that learning about peoples’ experiences in various times, places, cultures and situations makes me more empathetic. I could never choose just one favorite book, but I have re-read books by authors as varied as Jane Austen, Stephen King, Kristin Hannah, Rick Riordan, Agatha Christie, and JK Rowling. I’m just all over the place!

Hello, I’m Bailey! I’m living in the midwestern United States finishing up a master’s degree in mental health counseling. I’m currently getting practical experience at a hospital and hope to continue my career post-grad in a similar setting. I currently live with my partner and our beloved cat Elvira “Elvie” who is spoiled to no end! When I’m not reading (or sometimes while I’m reading) you can find me gaming, Animal Crossing and Resident Evil are my current faves!

I have been a member of Goodreads since 2014 but just started increasing my reading at the end of 2019. I joined this group at the beginning of 2020 and have been active ever since. I love participating in the challenges that we have on here and leading challenges whenever I get the chance. You may remember me from the Shiver Me Timbers! monthly challenge in 2020 or any of the buddy reads I’ve participated in over the last year or so! This group had definitely pushed me to be a better reader and step outside of my reading comfort zone.

My favorite genres of books include fantasy, adventure, and horror. I used to love visiting my hometown library when I was a kid and borrowing as many books as my mom would let me! Libraries have such a cozy feel to me and I still love spending time there whenever I can. Stephen King is my favorite author of all time and of course my current favorite series is The Dark Tower. I prefer audiobooks when I can get them but I also love collecting physical copies for my home library!

Hello, book friends! My name is Carri Carey (yes, really!) and I cherish being a part of this amazing group of fellow book lovers! I currently live with my boyfriend, a cat, and a dog in Maryland, though I have lived all around the US - 11 states so far! I'm a civil engineer and work in land development along the coast. I have three sons who are grown and on their own, also spread across the country from Seattle to New York. When I'm not reading or drawing in AutoCAD, I watch a lot of movies and tv, while I crochet tons of blankets!

I joined Goodreads in 2011 but didn't become active until 2017, when my friend and fellow mod, SarahKat, recommended I join this group! Then I didn't really start immersing myself into the group until a couple years ago. I love how this group has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, both in reading and socially. I have found this to be a safe, welcoming place for everyone! Our stories, and our love of stories, are bringing us together.

I love stories. Books, tv, movies, songs, reminiscence, whatever. I just love stories. I have been an avid reader my whole life, but just became a huge book nerd a few years ago. The first book I remember grabbing my soul was Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. While my kids were growing up, I read to them and with them and often read the same things they did and discussed it with them. It was a wonderful experience! I generally read 3-4 "eyeball" books a month (physical or ebook) and listen to 8-10 audiobooks a month at work or while exercising. My favorite genre is psychological thrillers and my favorite authors include Gillian Flynn, Kristin Hannah, Liane Moriarty, Fredrik Backman, Blake Crouch, Alex Michaelades, and John Sandford. If I could recommend one book everyone should read it would be The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.

Hello!

I'm Ashleigh and I am from Australia! I am a primary school teacher with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood and primary education and currently work as a relief/sub teacher which allows me to find a better work-life balance than full time teaching. I am married and a mum. My daughter is 3 years old and loves many things, books being one of them! Her current love is reading on repeat the Peppa Pig books (and watching the show on repeat too).

I joined Goodreads itself maybe about 10 years ago or more, but it took me a fair few years to actually do anything with it until one day I decided to make use of my account. Since then, I haven't gone back. In 2018, I joined this group upon searching for some challenges. I joined a few, but this is really the only one I stuck with as it suited what I was after the most. I am not good at choosing what to read, so I love participating in things that dictate what I read and where I don't have make decisions, such as the group reads, challenges and TBR Twins, where I always let my twin choose the book. I very much enjoy the TBR Jar yearly challenge so I can set my TBR shelf on random and go with the flow. Because of these aspects, I've definitely read outside my usual genres on numerous occasions and very much enjoyed some books I've read.

I've always been a reader, but it wasn't until I had my daughter did I find a solid reading routine. I know for some people having a baby can mean no time to read, but for me, it helped me to prioritise reading time. I discovered the wonder of audiobooks when I had a newborn to feed multiple times throughout the night and I now read all formats - however I can access the book. A bit after my daughter's birth was probably when I became super active on this group and started to actually participate in more challenges and aspects of the group.

I won't pass up reading any genre, but my favourites are fantasy, scifi, historical fiction (I like WWII era, French Revolution and ancient empires such as the Romans, Vikings and I take a particular fancy to South American civilisations such as the Incans). I'm not a huge fan of straight up crime books, but mysteries are okay and I've also discovered a fondness for thrillers after reading a few this year. But there's nothing I'll say no to without giving it a shot.

I definitely have way too many books on my TBR than I'll ever be able to read in a lifetime, but isn't that all of us? I tell myself that buying books and adding to a TBR are hobbies within themselves and are not necessarily related to reading in any way, shape or form.

I'm looking forward to participating with this group from a different perspective after being part of it for so long as a member! I can't wait!

Hi, y’all! In the rural North Alabama community where I live and work, I’m called by the name given to me at my arrival in the world: Pam.

In 2016, I heard about Goodreads on Facebook and took a look and ended up joining under my given name; however, I didn’t get involved in any groups until 2019 when I took a more in-depth look at GR and decided to join this group. It was at this time, I discovered the things I’d self-published through Kindle were here and I decided to switch-over to Sunny, one of my pen names, so I could keep an eye on my things, while participating in the group activities.

I’ve been working in our small library for 12 years; there’s nothing more peaceful than being in the midst of 18,000+ books. At home I only have a few hundred or so volumes. And, had I the space, I would no doubt own more; books are my favorite décor; reading my favorite pastime.

The majority of my reading universe has always been mysteries, but thanks to participating in challenges and buddy reads and checking out what my friends are reading, my horizons have expanded and I have read books I otherwise would never have picked up.

This is where I come to relax and relieve stress; and I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help the group keep going.

Hiya all,
I'm Lisa! I'm originally from Venezuela, though I have lived worldwide since I was six. My family moved to Denmark 25 years ago, so at this point, I'm more Danish than anything else.

I have a degree in International Business Communication and work in publishing. I exclusively read e-books, so I'm very seldom not reading something or other, whether that be manuscripts, ARCs, or published books. Whenever I'm not, though, I am mostly "just" mom. My other hobbies include singing, baking/cooking, bingeing on Booktube, and watching TV shows/movies.

I was an avid reader when I was younger, but stopped once I discovered a social life in my teenage years. I finally got back into the habit of reading while writing my Bachelor's thesis, because is there better timing than in the midst of hectic university life?

So, I joined Goodreads in late 2016 and have been a (more or less) consistently active member ever since. My favorite aspect of this community is interacting with and getting to know other members, which is why I became part of the (now defunct) Welcome Committee in 2017, and have now happily accepted this new role as the group Cheerleader.

I'm an omnivorous reader - I read extremely varied and will try everything at least once. As a mood reader, there's usually no rhyme or reason behind the books I pick up in a given year. I enjoy reading obscure and lesser-known books because they're generally niche and unique. That said, I tend to gravitate most towards new releases. Partly because my job calls for it but also because FOMO is real. However, every year, I aim to be better at reading all the classics, more backlist books, as well as more non-fiction. I'm proficient in several languages, and although I strive to read more often in those, old habits die hard, and the accessibility of English usually wins over.

My favorite genres are psychological thrillers, fantasy, magical realism, and sci-fi. And a few of my all-time favorite books are: The Little Prince, Flowers for Algernon, A Monster Calls, and House of Leaves.

I feel like I've come a long way since joining the group, both in terms of reading and socially. It's been the best journey thus far and I'm excited to keep diversifying my reading, broadening my comfort zone, and discovering new favorite books from genres I never thought I would enjoy. And I can't wait to do it all with all of you!

Hello, everyone! My name is Theresa. I grew up in southwest Missouri. I’ve lived in this area my entire life. I come from a large family. I am my mother’s 12th child, but not quite her youngest. My husband and I have been married for 4 years. We met as teenagers and reunited in 2010. Between the two of us, we have three adult children. We have a spoiled little Shih Tzu to enjoy, as well. I’ve mostly been a stay at home mom. I worked full time, in a factory, until my son was born. I’ve worked in restaurants and in health care, both part time.

I often use Hoopla and Libby for e-books and audiobooks. I do read books in print and use the local library often. I used to say the library is my second home. Especially back when I was working on genealogy so much.

I started reading more and more when I joined goodreads and this group. I joined goodreads in 2012 and this group in 2019. Some authors I enjoy are Catherine Ryan Hyde, Janet Evanovich, and James Patterson. I recently discovered LaVyrle Spencer and will likely read more from her. I should also mention Colleen Oakley. Genres I read include Humor, Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Historical Fiction, among others and I'm a sucker for books with dogs on the cover.

I'm looking forward to this new adventure!

Hi! I’m JennH. I live in the Northeastern US with my family of six. They keep me busy. When not reading, I like to dabble in sewing, knitting, cross stitch, cooking, and baking. I’ve also recently started listening more to music and binging dramas.

I’ve been a member of Goodreads since 2016, when another book site I belonged to shut down. I came over to Goodreads kicking and screaming, but have since become a huge fan. I joined a few groups that were carryovers from the other site, then eventually started venturing out and exploring more groups. Finally a couple of years ago, I discovered and joined this group. I love, love, love the variety of challenges and the readathons. They are so much fun, give me focus, and feed my competitive side. I regret not finding this group sooner.

Needless to say, I love reading. Growing up, I always had a book on hand. I hardly ever carried a bag, so I used to pick my coats and jackets, based on the size of the pockets. A must was the ability to hold a book! Nowadays, I both read books and listen to audiobooks. I listen to a LOT of audiobooks. I think 2/3 of my total reading per year now is audiobooks but that didn't start until about a few years ago. Audiobooks were perfect for drowning out the noise and the chaos of life. So basically when I cannot physically read a book, I will have an audiobook on. I like to think that I read a wide variety of books. But I have to say, mysteries and fantasy do top the list. Followed by historical fiction, young adult, thrillers, romance, classics, contemporary, graphic novels…. And I have a soft spot for cozy mysteries, especially culinary ones.

Hi, I'm Susan and I've loved to read my whole life. I started reading Sweet Valley High books during my elementary school years and then I discovered V.C. Andrews around middle school and devoured many of her books. I live in Edmond, Oklahoma with my husband and 13 year old daughter. I joined the Air Force right out of high school, which sent me to Massachusetts. After getting out of the military in the late '90s I got a job working for the government as a civilian. Over the last 22 years I've worked in IT with the Department of Defense.

I joined Goodreads in 2007 and used it as a place to keep a list of the books I've read. I also have a reading journal with similar lists. I'm a Virgo, nerd and list maker :). I was looking for a way to amp up my reading this year because there are so many books I want read. I searched the Goodreads groups and found the Reading Challenge group. I joined a few other groups, but honestly think this group is the best. The challenges are fun and engaging and the moderators do a great job at keeping things organized. I've wanted to get more involved in the group and I volunteered to lead one monthly challenge and a quarterly challenge. I'm excited to help the group more in a moderator capacity. I like the monthly themed challenges the best. When I'm not reading, I love planning what I'm going to read. Books are always on my mind.

Some of my favorite authors are: Jodi Picoult, David Sedaris and Stephen King. I love mystery/thrillers, horror, historical fiction, chick lit and I've started branching out a bit in the feel good romance type books (Emily Henry is becoming a favorite author). I tend to have an audio book, ebook and physical book going all at once. I love holding a real book, but also enjoy laying in bed reading my Nook with no lights on. Audio books are great for commuting and working out at the gym when I can't actually read a book. Like I said, I'm a nerd and have no shame. There are so many books and so little time!