Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
2022 Challenge Archive
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2022 February Pick-it-for-me Challenge
TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE! Pickees
✱ To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed (Did Not Finish) or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorite books and authors. In addition, you might consider updating your profile. You can include info about your favorite books, authors, genres, themes or tropes (or themes/tropes you dislike – i.e. secret baby).
✱ Please do not specify likes/dislikes in the sign-up thread. This information will not be included in the pairings and your pickee may not see your message and does not need to rely on that information when making picks.
Pickers
✱ Please remember this is primarily a romance readers group. Thus, most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are various sub genres within the romance category - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy. If your pickee reads a wide variety, you could add a non-romance as a choice.
✱ You will be using 8 picking rules to select books for you pickee. Choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These can be brand new to them (not found on any of their shelves) or a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work previously. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr, with a minimum of one from their preferred shelves if provided. Be sure to pick at least one book for each picking rule, but please limit your picks to no more than two books per rule as sometimes having too many options is worse than too few.
✱ Please remember when you are giving new recommendations, you are not limited to titles that you have read. You can choose books that are new releases, on your tbr, or titles you looked up on Goodreads or Amazon that you think your pickee would enjoy.
A few hints to help with book selection:
✱ Check the book’s publishing date. Select "date pub" from the checkbox selections and save.
✱ Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves. A personalized shelf is one the member has created. (e.g., 'to read next', 'favorites' ‘didn’t like’)
✱ Make sure the books you choose are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read.
✱ Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read or read the most. Reviewing their ‘read’ shelf might help you in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
✱ If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.) Contact the Mods or the month's organizer for guidance.
✱ Include a variety of books (e.g., shorter page count, new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, an older book on their 'to-read' shelf) This variety gives your pickee options when choosing the book or books they will be reading this month. Use the sort feature within their shelves to determine date a book was added, published or read; page numbers, ratings, etc.
✱ Reminder, you only need to read ONE of your picks to complete this challenge. You will get between 8-16 recommendations, yours to do with what you like. Remember to be kind, the person making your picks has likely put time and effort into making picks they hope you will enjoy.
If you want to volunteer to make repicks:
✱ We love that you want to help out, but please remember those who need picks have been waiting for a long time already. Please only volunteer if you are able to make the repicks within a few hours of the deadline. Thank you!
Hold for: 2021 FEBRUARY PIFM PAIRINGS Please pick for the person below you in your group. The last person in the group will pick for the first person. For example: In the Bronze Reader group, Kay will pick for RomanticBookWorm and so on. Emma will pick for Kay. Picks are due January 30th (5 pm US PST)
✔️ = made picks
♥ - Angel Pick
Gold Reader - 200+ books
✔️NancyH (225 books)to read
✔️Stacie (400+ books) to read
✔️LaurLa (350 books) pick me please
✔️KathyD (200 books) Pick Shelf Audio
✔️Alyhs (200 books)
Silver Reader - 101-199 books
♥✔️Teodora (104 books)
✔️Sassafrass (175 books) 2022 PIFM
✔️MountainKat (150 books) to read asap
✔️Jocelyn (105 books) to read
✔️Madeline (110 books) PIFM
✔️Hinal (150 books) to read
Bronze Reader - >100 books
♥✔️ Kay (100 books) to read
✔️Romanticbookworm (50 books) pick for me
♥✔️ *Xuntung (22 books) Private Profile Please Friend!
♥✔️ Nadiyyatun (50 books) to read
✔️Sonja (80 books) PIFM
✔️ Bookish (100 books) to read
✔️*Pamela (31 books) Private Profile Please Friend!
✔️Carina (75 books) bookshelved
✔️Kristy (25 books) to read
✔️ Ilham (50 books) to read
✔️PrinzessBookDragon (68 books) uno 2022 TBR
✔️Apoorva (25 books) TBR
✔️*Fran (50 books) PIFM shelf
✔️Akshara (100 books) PFIM
✔️Chris (12 books) to read
✔️Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress (100 books) to read
✔️Emma (15 books) PIFM
Repick Buddies:
♥✔️ *Osule (200 books) PRIVATE PROFILE PLEASE FRIEND!
✔️Maneesha (30 books) to read
Happy picking!
2021 FEBRUARY PIFM PICKING RULES
2021 FEBRUARY PIFM PICKING RULES
Cue the Olympic Fanfair!
The XXIV Winter Olympic Games are coming! (24th Games if you don’t know your Olympiads!) Opening Ceremony will take place on February 4th in Beijing, China. Winter Olympic athletes compete in sports played on snow or ice. I happen to be a BIG Winter Olympics fan and am really looking forward to the games so for fun and in honor of the Games, here are some fun facts about the Winter Olympics.
** RING BONUS: For a special bonus, you can replace any of the below picking rules with a book that has a ring of any kind in the title, series or on the cover, in honor of the six interlocking rings, the symbol of the Olympic Games! As examples: on the cover of the book A Bollywood Affair – there are circular or ringed bracelets on the cover; the book Wuthering Heights – the word ‘ring’ is within the title; the book Affair by Amanda Quick – the Q in the author’s name looks like a ring. Totally open to your interpretation!**
1) The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France, nearly 28 years after the first Summer Olympic games were held. Winter Olympics are held every 4 years and extend over a 2-week period that includes an opening and closing ceremony, like the Summer Games. While the official titles of the Summer Games count Olympiads (held or not), the titles of the Winter Games only count the Games themselves. When the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War 2, the Winter Olympics did not count those missed years in the Games. Also, 1994 Lillehammer, Norway Winter Games were the first Winter Games to be held in a different year from the Summer Olympics.
Recommend a book that was published in or takes place anytime in the 1920s, 1940s or 1990s, that is the 1st (opening) or last (closing) book in a series; that is set at different or multiple times of the year; or that has a 4 in the page count or publication date.
2) A new tradition is born! During the 1920 Summer Games, two winter sports, hockey and figure skating were featured. Afterwards, it was decided that the host country for the 1924 Summer Olympics, France, would also feature a Winter Sports Week earlier in the year. Over 250 athletes representing 16 countries competed in 16 sports, all on either snow or ice. It was so successful that the Winter Olympic Games were born!
Recommend a book that is set in France or with an author or character who is French; that has a wintery cover or setting; or that is shelved as sports or sports romance.
3) A Winter Olympic Legend Norwegian figure skater, Sonja Henie competed in the first Winter Olympics at just 11 years old. She came in last place that year but returned for the 1928 2nd Winter Games in Switzerland and made history, winning the ladies’ figure skating gold medal at the age of 15. This also made her the youngest Olympic champion in history to win gold, a title she held for 70 years! She would go on to win gold again in 1932 Lake Placid, NY and 1936 Bavaria. She was also ten-time World Champion (1927-1936) and six-time European Champion (1931-1936), more titles than any other ladies’ figure skater. She also went on to become a movie star in Hollywood! Yours truly was named after her! 😊
Recommend a book with a woman on the cover; where the author is from or one of the characters is from a Scandinavian country (Norway, Sweden, Finland or Denmark); a long book (over 400 pages); or where the author or a character has the same name as you or your pickee.
4) A Winter Olympic first for Beijing! The XXIV Beijing Winter Olympics will be the first time a city has hosted both a Summer and Winter Olympic Games. It will also be the first time China has hosted a Winter Olympics and the last of three consecutive Olympics hosted in East Asia; after 2018 PyeongChang, South Korea and the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The design for the Games’ medals is a concept based on traditional Chinese astronomy and astrology as the games will be held coinciding with the Chinese New Year festivities.
Recommend a book set in an Asian country or with an Asian character; with a holiday or celebration in the story; with gold, silver or bronze letters on the cover; or with a red cover or symbol of some kind on the cover.
5) The Torch Relay heralds the start of the Olympic Games for both Summer and Winter Games. The Olympic flame is a symbol that represents both ancient and modern times. The idea for the Olympic flame was derived from ancient Greece and in ancient Greek mythology, fire had divine connotations. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit in Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olympic torch relay, which formally ends with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of that Games. The flame then continues to burn in the cauldron for the duration of the Games, until it is extinguished during the closing ceremony. In the days and weeks leading up to the opening ceremony of the Games, the torch relay would pass through many various cities and towns in the host country; however, due to the outbreak and continued concerns over coronavirus, this Games’ Torch relay only visited 3 venues in Greece and will visit only 3 cities in China prior to igniting the Olympic cauldron on February 4th.
Recommend a book with a fiery character or cover (your interpretation); with some kind of reference to Greece or Greek mythology; or with yellow or orange on the cover.
6) The Events The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will host over 2,500 athletes, who will compete in 109 events in 7 sports (15 disciplines). These 7 sports are biathlon, bobsledding, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing (which includes cross-country and snowboarding). The International Olympic Committee made changes to the 2022 program to help increase the participation of women and appeal to younger audiences. Seven new medal events were added including men’s and women’s big air freestyle, women’s monobob, and mixed team competitions in several categories of skiing and mixed relay in short track speed skating.
Recommend a book with a mix of people on the cover (more than one person); with more than 2,500 ratings; with a young person (your interpretation) or child in the story: or with a 1, 0 and 9 in any order in the page count and/or publication date.
7) The National Olympic Committees The 2,500 athletes represent 90 countries, known as National Olympic Committees (NOC). Seven countries that competed in the 2018 Games in South Korea (Bermuda, Kenya, North Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Togo and Tonga) will not compete in the Beijing Olympics. Five countries that did not participate in the 2018 Olympics will compete in Beijing (American Samoa, Haiti, Peru, Saudi Arabia and Trinidad and Tobago). This will the first time participation for Haiti and Saudi Arabia. That’s quite a jump from the 16 countries who participated in the first Winter Olympics!
Recommend a book that is set in, or the author or character is from the Middle East or the Caribbean; the cover has a warm look or feel (your interpretation); with the letters N. O. and C. in the title, series or author's name; or that is a new to you author or new author to your pickee.
8) Transportation to the Games There are 26 venues for the Games in China and they are all running entirely on renewable energy! The venues are divided into three zones: Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. The Beijing Zone is in the center of Beijing and includes several of the venues where the Summer Games were held. Most major events, including the opening, medal and closing ceremonies will take place in this zone. The other two zones are over 90 km (56 mi) and 220 km (140 mi) from downtown Beijing respectively. For this reason, efficient transportation is a must! The new Beijing-Zhangjiakou intercity railway opened in 2019 and is built for speed! It can travel up to 350 km/h (220 mph), decreasing travel between venues to around 50 minutes. A dedicated train for the Winter Olympics also began running in January 2022 and features a television studio which supports live broadcast on the train. The Beijing Subway has expanded to more than 783 km (487 mi) in length and a new airport in Beijing and the surrounding region opened in 2019, though only one airport will be used for the entry and exit of foreign participants.
Recommend a book that can be finished fast (under 220 pages); where a character uses an alternative transportation method (like an airplane, train or boat, your interpretation); where a character or the author is involved in television or a movie; or with a green cover.
That's right! I'm taking over ALL the February Monthly challenges! HAHAHAHA!
Sonja wrote: "That's right! I'm taking over ALL the February Monthly challenges! HAHAHAHA!"😂😂😂
My plan is to get to 150 in 2022! Surpassed that last year, but off to a rather slow start so far in January. 🤷🏻♀️Please use my hopefully to soon be updated to-read-asap shelf - thanks!
In in! (private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
These past two years I’ve read way less than usual. I would like to get to 50 books this year :)
Thank you Sonja for taking on two monthly challenges at once!!!
I'm trying to get to 175 books this year! My goal last year was 150 so I'd like to increase it this year.My shelf: 2022-pifm
My goal is 225 books for this year, the same as last year. I read a few more than 225 but will be satisfied if I can read that many.
Hello - I am in please. My GR challenge says 350 and that I am 5 books behind... Yikes! I'm off to a slow start apparently. Guess I'd best just say 300+ 😀01-pick-me-please
Hello! I'm in. I would like to read around a 100 books this year.I'm new here but I made a shelf you can refer to. I am open to suggestions that are not included in it as well so...go ahead and pick as many books for me as you want.
The shelf I made for this challenge is PIFM
I always set very low goals... mine is 12 books for the year. One book for each month. I know that I'll end up reading more most likely but I took a break few years back from reading due to several reasons and now I just want to read at least one book per month :)Please use "to read" self.
Sonja if you need anyone for re-picks let me know.
I want to participate... and my good reads goal for the year is 150!
Im in Please use my PIFM shelf. I plan to hopefully read 50 books this year.
I'm in! My goal is 15 ... trying to get back to reading and I don't want to set myself up for failure with more. Use my PIFM shelf.
I'm in. I would like to read at least a 100 books this year. Please pick from my tbr.
Updated to here! Just a little over 28 hours to go for signups!Welcome all!
I'm in. I haven't set a goal for this year but if it's anything like last year, it will be over 400.Please use this shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I would like to sign up and I will make a PIFM shelf to make it easier for the picker
Sorry, I hound like to join the challenge and I am aiming for 110 books this year and here is the link to my shelf. First timer here and new hahahttps://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Hi. I want to sign up! My target this year will be 50 books. Just started to read again. Here’s my shelf : https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
I plan on reading at least 25 books this year because college deadlines and internships don't allow for a lot of spare time nowadays :p.Please use my TBR shelf.
Hello everyone! I would love to participate. I plan on reading 100 books this year!
I'm in. My goal is 31 books this year.
Hi there! My goal this year is to read 104 books (2 a week), which should be more than achievable! I'm definitely in :)
hi ! My goal this year is only 22 books because I’ve a super major national exam this year but I do hope I can achieve my goal in the first half of the year or after my exams👻
My goal is to read 100 books this year! (although last year I read 408 and may end up with that many this year too).https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Hi! I'm in 🙋🏻♀️my goal is to read 50 books this year✨
Hi! I'd love to participate :3 I plan on reading 105 books this year. Please use my TBR shelf.
Updated to here! Welcome new and returning PIFM'ers! We have a lot of new faces and I love it! Couple quick notes:
** If your profile is set to private , please be on the lookout in the next couple days for a friend request from your picker! (There's an * next to your name.) They cannot pick for you until you approve this request!
You can also choose to change your profile to public, but that is totally your call!
**Please double-check the Participants post (#3) above to confirm I have your name correct and your preferred shelf linked. If you didn't provide one, I usually link your "Want to Read" generic shelf.
**Please be sure you understand the picking and challenge rules! Minimum books picked must be 8 (ideally one for each picking rule when it's posted) - 4 new-to-your-pickee selections and 4 your pickee's shelves including at least 1 from the linked preferred shelf. Do your pickee a solid, if they specified a PIFM shelf, try to stick mostly to that if you can!
**Just under 12 hours left for signups! Note that I adjusted the cutoff time for my sanity! If you're like me, I stalk these threads around cutoff time for the picking rules! LOL!
Great to have everyone here!!
I'm only committing to25 books this year.
Okay signups are closed and I'll post pairings and picking rules shortly!Anyone who joins after this point, just hang tight and we'll try to get you added on!
Alrighty! Picking rules and pairings are up and running! If your pickee has an * next to their name, they have a private profile and you'll need to friend them first in order to see their shelves.
Pickee, you can make that faster by friending your picker first! :)
Remember you have until January 30th at 5pm PST to complete your pickings!
Carmen, it wasn't so easy to pick book for you! I hope that you will find some that you like to read! 1) The first Winter Olympics
TBR: Black Sunshine (452 pages)
NEW: Saint (published February 4th)
2) A new tradition is born!
TBR: Solitary (wintery cover)
NEW: Kiss King (sports romance)
3) A Winter Olympic Legend
TBR: The Reckoning (woman on the cover)
NEW: The Queen of Carnage (woman on the cover)
4) A Winter Olympic first for Beijing!
TBR: The Fall of Arthur (symbol on the cover)
NEW: A Very Bossy Christmas (red cover)
5) The Events
TBR: Blood Oath (more than 2.500 ratings)
NEW: The Academy (more than 2.500 ratings)
6) The Torch Relay
TBR: Billionaire's Apprentice (yellow/ orange on the cover)
NEW: The Seller (takes place in Greece)
7) The National Olympic Committees
NEW: Lyric's Accidental Mate (N,O and C)
TBR: The Emperor's Blades (N, O and C)
8) Transportation to the Games
TBR: Betting on Fate (green cover)
NEW: Ryker (under 220pages)
Hello I am not sure if this is closed already and am super late. If not am in and I would like to read 30 books this year 😀
Hello I am not sure if this is closed already and am super late. If not am in and I would like to read 30 books this year 😀
@MoutainKat: I get to pick for you this time! Woot! It will take me a bit of time to go through your shelves so I can try to recommend some books you haven't read but I'll have them up by this weekend!
Carina, here are your picks. I tried to chose a wide variety, so I hope you'll find something you like.1)
Cold Ridge2)
Letters from Paris;
The Deal3)
Hidden4)
The Substitute5)
Red Queen;
Sparrow6)
Half-Blood7)
The Dating Dare;
The Secrets of Married Women8)
Undone
Hey LaurLa! Hope you enjoy your picks! Tried to find some new ones for you that weren't so new to me so you can yell at me if you hate them haha. Always fun to pick for you!1) The First Winter Olympics
TBR:
(1st in a series)NEW:
(410 pages and a personal favorite author of mine!)2) New Tradition
TBR:
(MPG Sports/Sports Romance)NEW:
(mostly set in Alaska which is pretty wintery in my head)3)A Winter Olympic Legend
TBR:
(over 400 pages and AFN same as you)NEW:
(woman on cover)4) First for Beijing
TBR:
(gold letters)NEW:
(Red cover and my top book of January)5) The Events
TBR:
(over 2500 ratings) NEW:
(2 people on cover)6) The Torch Relay
TBR:
(it doesn't get more fiery than a firefighter on a cover with fire in the title)NEW:
(Hades and Persephone retelling)7) The National Olympic Committees
TBR:
(warm cover and a new to me author)NEW:
(n.o.c. in title and I think a new to you author)8) Transportation to the Games
TBR:
(it's been on your shelf awhile and is a quick read!)NEW:
(character involved in TV)
love to be a part of this, my reading challenge is 200 books this year thanks for this
For Pamela! Here are your picks!The First Winter Olympics
TBR:All That's Left- Published October 24th, 2019
NTY: Dear Adam-204 pages
A New Tradition is Born
TBR: Boyfriend- Sports Romance- Ice Hockey
NTY: From Lukov with Love- Sports Romance- Ice Skating
A Winter Olympic Legend
TBR: Good Girl Complex: An Avalon Bay Novel- Woman on the cover
NTY:Anne of Manhattan- Woman on the cover
A Winter Olympic first for Beijing!
TBR:Verliebt in der Nachspielzeit-Red Cover
NTY:So We Meet Again- Asian Characters
The Events
TBR:The Dating Dare- More than One Person
NTY: Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating85,000+ ratings
The Torch Relay
TBR: This Woven Kingdom-Yellow Cover
NTY:The Unhoneymooners- Yellow Cover
The National Olympic Committees
TBR: Chosen Ones(N, O, C in Title)
NTY:Float Plan- Set in Caribbean
Transportation to the Games
TBR: The Darkest Star- Green Cover
NTY:Food Fight!: An Enemies to Lovers, Reality TV Romance- TV Show
Sassafrass wrote: "@MoutainKat: I get to pick for you this time! Woot! It will take me a bit of time to go through your shelves so I can try to recommend some books you haven't read but I'll have them up by this wee..."I can't wait! Off to make sure my shelf is completely up to date...
Hi Jocelyn! I will be working on your picks later today. 😊
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What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?
The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.
The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. You may not be interested in the new books recommended, which is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf.
You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge!
After signups are closed, your names and any extra info will go into the super-secret PIFM randomizer and it will select someone for you to recommend books to and someone to give you recommendations. This list will be posted along with any specific picking rules for the month.
In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or friend the person giving you recommendations. PLEASE NOTE: if you choose to keep your profile private, it is your responsibility to send a friend request to the person picking for you as soon as possible after the matchups are posted. Whether your profile is private or not, it is also very important that your profile be set to receive Private Messages (PMs) in case anyone needs to reach out to you (mods, organizer etc.)
Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!
Repicks:
You can ask for repicks if:
✱ The books picked for you are not yet released.
✱ If you have already read the chosen book(s) and they are on your ‘read’ shelf.
✱ If you did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf.
You may NOT ask for repicks because:
✱ A book is not available at your library.
✱ A genre or author you don’t enjoy.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:
✱✱ To sign up, please share the number of books you plan to read in 2022! ✱✱
✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick!
✱✱ IMPORTANT DATES ✱✱
Sign ups will remain open until January 25th (10 pm US PST)
You’ll have until January 30th (5 pm US PST) to make your recommendations.
Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.
If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!