2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Updated to message 81 -- I've read 25 out of the 35 I said. I added the list to my message :)

Update to msg #585

Progress 5/50

Update 545: 47/50

Update 85

33/50

Bear Next Door by J.L. Wilder for a book about divorce.

Update msg # 17

38/50

30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list Little Fires Everywhere ✅
41. A book written during NaNoWriMo Evvie Drake Starts Over ✅
43. A book that takes place entirely in one day Falling ✅
49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list It ✅

Updated msg 29

Just completed #35 (about divorce) - The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family by Kerri K. Greenidge. This book is well-researched and constructed well. The writing is good, but the names were so intricate with all of the various nicknames, it was hard at times to keep track. There is a nice glossary at the front. While I appreciate the author’s premise, there was a level of defensiveness or cynicism that started from the intro. Her scholarship was so thorough that her points were justified, but the tone of the book was just sharp. Interesting book! 3.5 stars

39/50

Updated message 104
42/50 complete

38. A book you read more than 10 years ago - Jane Eyre read 7/17/2023

Updating message #9

28/50 completed

30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail DONE

43. A book that takes place entirely in one day They Both Die in the End DONE

Update to #593

18/50

31. A book about a family: Unspeakable Things A very straightforward and chilling description of a family with tiptoeing around their patriarch.

Updated message 104
43/50 complete

18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022 - The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story read 7/20/2023

Updated message 88-- 23/50

Updated msg 29

Just completed #33 (about athlete/sport - fencing) - As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Laydon. This is a great audiobook if you are a fan of The Princess Bride! Listening to Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Billy Crystal, and the rest of the cast talk about the filming experience in their own words (and often in their own voice) was fantastic! Got a touch long at the end, but it’s overall really well done! 4.5 stars

40/50

Update 85
34/50

A book with a pet character Purrfect Murder by Nic Saint

Update: #13

34/50

Update 545

50/50 completed July 29

Updated message 88-- 24/50
A modern retelling of a classic-- Demon Copperhead

Update message 74.

27/30

Update to message #18 - 43/50 books read!

Updated msg 35

27/25

47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas - Fallen Crest Nightmare:A Fallen Crest Novella(#7.5)7-30 (Halloween)

Updated message 247 -- 25/50

Update to message #38

42/50

38/50

Since last update:

1 A book you meant to read in 2022
Empty Smiles by Katherine Arden

12 A book published in spring 2023
Zero Days by Ruth Ware

16 A book where the main character's name is in the title
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate

18 A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022
House Rules by Jodi Picoult

27 A #BookTok recommendation
Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

29 A book your friend recommended
The Maid by Nita Prose

43 A book that takes place entirely in one day
A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

44 A book that was self-published
Minor Mage by T. Kingfisher

JUNE AND JULY WRAP-UP

Apologies for no wrap-up post last month! I was traveling. So 2 months-worth of stats this time.

117 participants read
311 books these 2 months!

Year-to-date
1300 books
out of a goal of 4,037

Have a great August! Hope everyone had/is having a good summer!

Updated message 41
9/15

I would like to sign up for 20. I have 13/20 so far.

1. A book you meant to read in 2022 - Through the Language Glass: Why the World Looks Different in Other Languages
4. A book by a first-time author - Spare
5. A book with mythical creatures - Stardust
6. A book about a forbidden romance - Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings
7. A book with "Girl" in the title - A Good Girl's Guide to Murder
8. A celebrity memoir - Wishful Drinking
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title - Sadie
25. A book with just text on the cover Radiance of Tomorrow
26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list - Spring, A Season In Verse
28. A book you bought secondhand - Diana
29. A book your friend recommended - The Silent Patient
31. A book about a family - Eight Hundred Grapes
48. A book that features two languages - English and Latin - The Name Of The Rose

Update message 15, 17/50

✓28. A book you bought secondhand: Man o' War: Thoroughbred Legends by Edward L. Bowen (7/1)

Update to comment #450: 37/40

Update to Message #11:

18. A book that has been banned or challenged in any state in 2022: The Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

39/50

Update to message #6: 30/40

SarahKat wrote: "
How to Participate:


1. Post here telling the challenge leader that you'd like to join the challenge. You can choose your books for the challenge at the beginning, or add them as you go. You ca..."

SarahKat wrote: "
How to Participate:


1. Post here telling the challenge leader that you'd like to join the challenge. You can choose your books for the challenge at the beginning, or add them as you go. You ca..."

Lisa (37) 15/30

Updated msg 35

28/25

Updated msg 29

Just completed #39 (book wish could read for first time again) - Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (re-read). I forgot how funny this book is (🦃🤣)! While Aex is not lacking in confidence, he does know he’s not perfect. Particularly everything our country has been through the last seven years, and continues to have to suffer through, all the hate and vitriol, this is the perfect adaptation from the perfect book at the perfect time!

41/50

Updating message #9

30/50 completed

6. A book about a forbidden romance Water for Elephants DONE

13. A book published the year you were born Sula DONE

Update to message #52

11/14

I read The Stand by Stephen King for prompt #49, the longest book on my TBR

Update to #609

19/50

22. A book with a queer lead: Box Hill The narrator of the book is a gay cisgender man who is primarily describing a significant relationship with a biker named Ray.

✔1. A book you meant to read in 2022 -- The First Husband
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
✔3. A book about a vacation -- Beach Read
✔4. A book by a first-time author -- Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
✔5. A book with mythical creatures -- Remarkably Bright Creatures
6. A book about a forbidden romance
✔7. A book with "Girl" in the title -- The Sunshine Girls
✔8. A celebrity memoir -- The Life & Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
9. A book with a color in the title
✔10. A romance with a fat lead -- One To Watch
✔11. A book about or set in Hollywood -- The Girls in the Picture
✔12. A book published in spring 2023 -- A Very Typical Family
13. A book published the year you were born
14. A modern retelling of a classic
✔15. A book with a song lyric as its title -- Clouds in my Coffee
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title
✔17. A book with a love triangle -- The Scent of Rain and Lightning
✔18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022 -- The Bluest Eye
✔19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge -- The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek
20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
21. A book set in the decade you were born
✔22. A book with a queer lead -- The Color Purple
✔23. A book with a map -- The Murder at the Vicarage
✔24. A book with a rabbit on the cover -- The Chocolate Bunny Brouhaha
25. A book with just text on the cover
26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
✔27. A #BookTok recommendation -- Four Winds
28. A book you bought secondhand
29. A book your friend recommended
30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list
✔31. A book about a family -- Before We Were Yours
32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
33. A book about an athlete/sport
✔34. A historical-fiction book -- Coal River
✔35. A book about divorce -- Truth Stained Lies
36. A book you think your best friend would like
✔37. A book you should have read in high school -- The Winter of our Discontent
✔38. A book you read more than 10 years ago -- Little Women
✔39. A book you wish you could read for the first time again -- The Book of Lost Friends
✔40. A book by an author with the same initials as you -- Key To Savannah

✔41. A book written during NaNoWriMo -- With the Fire on High
✔42. A book based on a popular movie -- As You Wish
✔43. A book that takes place entirely in one day -- A Spark of Light
✔44. A book that was self-published -- Lanterns, Lakes & Larceny
45. A book that started out as fan fiction
46. A book with a pet character
✔47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas -- Jackets, Jack-O-Lantern & Justice
48. A book that features two languages
49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
✔50. A book with alliteration in the title -- Mobsters, Madams & Murder in Steubenville, Ohio

30/50

reply | flag

Message #361 updated! 30/50 books read!

Update #57

32/50

1 A book you meant to read in 2022
The Winners
2 A book you bought from an independent bookstore
The Tender Bar: A Memoir
✔3 A book about a vacation (January)
One Italian Summer
✔4 A book by a first-time author
Remarkably Bright Creatures
5 A book with mythical creatures
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
✔6 A book about a forbidden romance
Woman on Fire
✔7 A book with "Girl" in the title (March)
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
✔8 A celebrity memoir
I'm Glad My Mom Died
✔9 A book with a color in the title
The Ink Black Heart
10 A romance with a fat lead
Get a Life, Chloe Brown
✔11 A book about or set in Hollywood
Blonde
12 A book published in spring 2023
A Shadow in MoscowThe Soulmate
✔13 A book published the year you were born
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
✔14 A modern retelling of a classic
Gingerbread
15 A book with a song lyric as its title
All the Lonely People
✔16 A book where the main character's name is in the title
Demon Copperhead
✔17 A book with a love triangle
Out of the Easy
18 A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022
Lolita
✔19 A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge (Woman in STEM)
The Half-Life of Marie Curie
20 A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
The Plot
21 A book set in the decade you were born
Killers of a Certain Age
✔22 A book with a queer lead (June)
The Tradition
✔23 A book with a map
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
✔24 A book with a rabbit on the cover
Watership Down
25 A book with just text on the cover
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
✔26 The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
Half Light
27 A #BookTok recommendation (April)
Transcendent Kingdom
28 A book you bought secondhand
The Bone People
✔29 A book your friend recommended
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches
✔30 A book that's on a celebrity book-club list (August)
Sula
✔31 A book about a family
North and South
32 A book that comes out in the second half of 2023 (December)
None of This Is True
✔33 A book about an athlete/sport
Hank Aaron: A Tribute To The Hammer 1934-2021
✔34 A historical-fiction book
The Fountains of Silence
✔35 A book about divorce
Mad Honey
✔36 A book you think your best friend would like
The Women of Chateau Lafayette
37 A book you should have read in high school
Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass
✔38 A book you read more than 10 years ago
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
39 A book you wish you could read for the first time again
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret
✔40 A book by an author with the same initials as you
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
✔41 A book written during NaNoWriMo (November)
Evvie Drake Starts Over
✔42 A book based on a popular movie
The Color Purple
✔43 A book that takes place entirely in one day (February)
The Sun Is Also a Star
✔44 A book that was self-published
Murder at the Mayfair Hotel
45 A book that started out as fan fiction

✔46 A book with a pet character
The Travelling Cat Chronicles
47 A book about a holiday that's not Christmas (July)
The Guncle
✔48 A book that features two languages
Next Year in Havana
49 The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
The Count of Monte Cristo
✔50 A book with alliteration in the title
Silver Sparrow

Update to Message #11

21. A book set in the decade you were born: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

40/50

POPSUGAR READING CHALLENGE 2023
Duration: January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

17/50

✔️ 1. A book you meant to read in 2022 Lessons in Chemistry July-5-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
✔️ 3. A book about a vacation Happy Place May-14-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 4. A book by a first-time author Lying in the Deep May-01-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 5. A book with mythical creatures The House in the Cerulean Sea July-1-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 6. A book about a forbidden romance The Handmaid’s Tale June-3-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. A book with "Girl" in the title
8. A celebrity memoir
✔️ 9. A book with a color in the title Yellowface June-4-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. A romance with a fat lead
11. A book about or set in Hollywood
✔️ 12. A book published in spring 2023 Love, Theoretically August-10-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
13. A book published the year you were born
✔️ 14. A modern retelling of a classic Pandora May-11-2023 ⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 15. A book with a song lyric as its title Ace of Spades August-1-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 16. A book where the main character's name is in the title Olga Dies Dreaming April-17-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 17. A book with a love triangle Bloodmarked April-27-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022
19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge
✔️ 20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023 Red, White & Royal Blue July-9-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
21. A book set in the decade you were born
22. A book with a queer lead
✔️ 23. A book with a map Fourth Wing May-18-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
24. A book with a rabbit on the cover
25. A book with just text on the cover
26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
27. A #BookTok recommendation
28. A book you bought secondhand
29. A book your friend recommended
✔️ 30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list Counterfeit June-17-2023 ⭐⭐⭐
31. A book about a family
32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
33. A book about an athlete/sport
✔️ 34. A historical-fiction book The Four Winds June-6-2023 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
✔️ 35. A book about divorce Happily Married April-20-2023 ⭐⭐⭐
36. A book you think your best friend would like
37. A book you should have read in high school
38. A book you read more than 10 years ago
39. A book you wish you could read for the first time again
40. A book by an author with the same initials as you

41. A book written during NaNoWriMo
42. A book based on a popular movie
✔️ 43. A book that takes place entirely in one day Falling June-12-2023 ⭐⭐⭐
44. A book that was self-published
45. A book that started out as fan fiction
46. A book with a pet character
47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas
48. A book that features two languages
49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
50. A book with alliteration in the title

Update to #625: 14/20

50. A book with alliteration in the title - Good Girl, Bad Blood

Updated message 88-- 25/50

Updated message 104
44/50 complete

13. A book published the year you were born - The Thorn Birds read 8/16/2023

Update; MSG #8

5/15

Update to Message #11

29. A book your friend recommended: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

41/50

Update to msg #585

Progress: 8/50

update message 15, 18/50

✓12. A book published in spring 2023: May 2023, Just a Regular Boy by Catherine Ryan Hyde (8/20)

Update to Message #29
Progress 36/50
2 A book you bought from an independent bookstore Rampart Street
3 A book about a vacation People We Meet on Vacation
8 A celebrity memoir Born to Run
10 A romance with a fat lead Big Boned
17 A book with a love triangle Deep South
20 A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023 Hallowe'en Party
29 A book your friend recommended All the Pretty Horses
33 A book about an athlete/sport Deal Breaker
45 A book that started out as fan fiction Austenland
47 A book about a holiday that's not Christmas The Cruelest Month

Update to Message # 11

#41. A book written during NaNoWriMo: The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

42/50

Update: MSG #8

6/15