2025 Reading Challenge discussion

Updating message #9

2/50 completed

29. A book your friend recommended I Know This Much Is True DONE

Updated msg 29

Just completed #34 (historical fiction) - A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee. I enjoyed this book much more than the first time I read it! I really enjoyed the setup for the series. Nice characters too. I enjoyed learning about the lascars and their history in England. Worth reading! 4 stars

9/50

In for 25
2/25

1. A book you meant to read in 2022
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
3. A book about a vacation
4. A book by a first-time author
5. A book with mythical creatures
6. A book about a forbidden romance
7. A book with "Girl" in the title
8. A celebrity memoir
9. A book with a color in the title
10. A romance with a fat lead
11. A book about or set in Hollywood
12. A book published in spring 2023
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
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title Hercule Poirot's Christmas
17. A book with a love triangle
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
21. A book set in the decade you were born
22. A book with a queer lead
23. A book with a map Six of Crows
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
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
35. A book about divorce
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
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

Updated message 105
7/50 complete

29. A book your friend recommended - Trust read 1/22/2023

Updated message 89-- 5/50

Updated msg 29

Just completed #31 (family) - A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers. Love this series! The way the author weaves together the timelines, using the narrative to explain, and then enhancing the characters s brilliant! I love the discussions of autonomy, sentience, and being too. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

10/50

Updated msg 36

13/25

Update to message #6: 5/40

Update to message #53

3/14

I read Love Story by Erich Segal for prompt #25, a book with only text on the cover

Update #85

7/50

Gild by Raven Kennedy
A retelling of the story of Midas

msg 55 updated - 3/30

Updated msg 36

14/25

40. A book by an author with the same initials as you- Melanie Harlow (MH) Frenched #1 1-23

Update to #161

2/50

46. A book with a pet character: The Midnight Plan of the Repo Man Jake the dog was there throughout, which tracks given this author wrote A Dog's Purpose!

Update #85

8/50

Lucca by Sarah Brianne

For a book I wish I could read again for the first time

Update to message 12: 5/20 books read

Updated message 105
8/50 complete

48. A book that features two languages - From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home read 1/25/2023

Update msg#17

9/40

17. A book with a love triangle House of Hunger ✅
24. A book with a rabbit on the cover Hell Bent ✅
34. A historical-fiction book To The Bright Edge of the World ✅

Updated msg 29

Just completed #9 (color in title) - The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson. Wow, what a beautifully told, comprehensive look at a complicated topic! I really appreciate the nuances included in the history and the acknowledgement that the black panther party members were people who made good and bad decisions, just like all people. But any bad decisions did not ultimately define them either. Love the acknowledgements at the end! Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

11/50

Update msg 36

15/25

11. A book about or set in Hollywood- The Seat Filler 1-25

updated message 46

completed 9/50

Update 85
9/40

Parable of the Sower

Recommended by a friend

I'm joining for all 50, please!

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

Progress: 45/50

Here is a link to the Popsugar Reading Challenge: https://www.popsugar.com/entertainmen...

1. A book you meant to read in 2022
-- The Wedding Crasher
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
3. A book about a vacation
-- The Sea Sisters
4. A book by a first-time author
-- Crows Nest
5. A book with mythical creatures
-- My First Gruffalo: Gruffalo Growl
6. A book about a forbidden romance
-- Stella Maris
7. A book with "Girl" in the title
-- Poster Girl
8. A celebrity memoir
-- Dreamer
9. A book with a color in the title
-- The Redgum River Retreat
10. A romance with a fat lead
-- Secretly Yours
11. A book about or set in Hollywood
-- Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
12. A book published in spring 2023
-- Wreck the Halls
13. A book published the year you were born
-- Neuromancer
14. A modern retelling of a classic
-- Lucy And The Big Bad Wolf
15. A book with a song lyric as its title
-- Without Further ADO
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title
-- The One and Only Dolly Jamieson
17. A book with a love triangle
-- The Blue
18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022
-- The Storyteller
19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge
-- Weyward - a book borrowed from library
20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
-- In the Clearing
21. A book set in the decade you were born
-- The Passenger
22. A book with a queer lead
-- Nancy Business
23. A book with a map
-- Echo Lake
24. A book with a rabbit on the cover
--
25. A book with just text on the cover
-- Head and Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership
26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
-- A Whole Lot of Lemonade Jones
27. A #BookTok recommendation
-- Can I Steal You for a Second?
28. A book you bought secondhand
29. A book your friend recommended
-- Taken
30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list
-- Mother-Daughter Murder Night - Reese's
31. A book about a family
-- Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six
32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
-- Roseghetto
33. A book about an athlete/sport
-- Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics
34. A historical-fiction book
-- Gemini Falls
35. A book about divorce
-- The Things We Leave Unfinished
36. A book you think your best friend would like
-- The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
37. A book you should have read in high school
-- Guided Self-Love Workbook for Teen Girls: 101 Exercises Proven to Inspire Shameless Self-Esteem and Build Captivating Confidence
38. A book you read more than 10 years ago
-- Nineteen Minutes
39. A book you wish you could read for the first time again
-- City of Nightmares
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
-- The Nancys
43. A book that takes place entirely in one day
-- Fire with Fire
44. A book that was self-published
-- The Switch Theory
45. A book that started out as fan fiction
46. A book with a pet character
-- Apartment 303
47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas
-- Salem Falls - Beltane
48. A book that features two languages
-- Winter Garden
49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
-- Fourth Wing
50. A book with alliteration in the title
-- Seven Sisters

Update to message #53

4/14

I read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King for prompt #7, a book with the word "girl" in the title

I have been having so much fun with the I Spy challenge, I thought I would add a couple of new ones. Please sign me up for 20.

Current Progress - 7/20

✅ 1. A book you meant to read in 2022 - The Bromance Book Club

2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
3. A book about a vacation
4. A book by a first-time author

✅ 5. A book with mythical creatures - Paper Stars

✅ 6. A book about a forbidden romance - Dime a Demon

7. A book with "Girl" in the title
8. A celebrity memoir
9. A book with a color in the title
10. A romance with a fat lead
11. A book about or set in Hollywood
12. A book published in spring 2023
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
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title
17. A book with a love triangle
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
21. A book set in the decade you were born
22. A book with a queer lead

✅ 23. A book with a map - The Black Unicorn

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 - Undercover Bromance

30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list
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
35. A book about divorce

✅ 36. A book you think your best friend would like - Magical Midlife Challenge

37. A book you should have read in high school

✅38. A book you read more than 10 years ago - Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold

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
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

Updated msg 29

Just completed #25 (only words on cover) - The Edge of Midnight by Beverly Jenkins. I have a serious issue with the misogynistic attitude of the male MC, and he’s not really held accountable for this behavior. It made the chemistry between the MCs rather unrealistic, particularly at the start. The female MC even said how could she really fall for her kidnapper. I agree, how? And the breaches of personal autonomy against the woman in this book without being called out as such is not ok. As much as I love this author, this one was a miss for me. 2 stars

12/50

Update Message 75 5/30 books read

Updated msg 29

Just completed #37 (books should have read in high school) - North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. How a book can be so long and yet end so abruptly is beyond me. While I liked how the characters were portrayed and the progression of the characters, I wish more time had been spent on those changes. I’m glad I finally read it, but I’m not sure I would recommend it. 3 stars

13/50

Update to Message #29
Progress 6/50
✔️7 A book with "Girl" in the title Reckless Girls

✔️9 A book with a color in the titleDouble Fudge Brownie Murder

✔️27 A #BookTok recommendation Fangirl

✔️31 A book about a family The Aosawa Murders

✔️34 A historical-fiction book Midnight Never Come

✔️43 A book that takes place entirely in one day The Secret Place

updated message 43
1/15

***
Updated mg 4
(note: I changed my nick from Liza to Lilili)

Progress 5/5: finished :-)
I've entered in too many challenges, so I'm stopping here, no increase... but it was very funny, thank you :-)

20/50

1. A book you meant to read in 2022
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 18/05
2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
3. A book about a vacation
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James 07/05
4. A book by a first-time author - I'm a Fan by Sheena Patel 08/04
5. A book with mythical creatures
The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar 08/05
6. A book about a forbidden romance - Atonement by Ian McEwan 20/02
7. A book with "Girl" in the title
8. A celebrity memoir
9. A book with a color in the title
10. A romance with a fat lead
11. A book about or set in Hollywood - Actress 29/03
12. A book published in spring 2023
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
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Y. Dennis-Benn 19/06
16. A book where the main character's name is in the title
17. A book with a love triangle - Behind Her Eyes 31/03
18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022
Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman
19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge
20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
21. A book set in the decade you were born
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson 18/10
22. A book with a queer lead - Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield 25/02
23. A book with a map - The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart 23/01/23
24. A book with a rabbit on the cover
25. A book with just text on the cover
by Kate Atkinson 31/08
26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list
27. A #BookTok recommendation
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy 06/07
28. A book you bought secondhand
29. A book your friend recommended
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah 11/08
30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list
31. A book about a family
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel 25/05
32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023
33. A book about an athlete/sport
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa 08/06
34. A historical-fiction book - A Million to One 15/03
35. A book about divorce
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
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 01/08
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
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 message #45
4/50

Update to message #53

5/14

I read Monster by Walter Dean Myers for prompt #13, a book published the year I was born

Updated Message 102
Read 11/50

Update Message 75. 6/30

Updating my progress for the month of January: msg#23 :
Progress: 4/15

Update #85
10/50

Ark by Veronica Roth

for the shortest book on my tbr

Updated msg 29

Just completed #36 (bestie would like) - Tranquility by Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters by Laura Vanderkam. I found this to be one of the most helpful books I’ve read in a long time! I plan to implement most of her guidelines - what I’ve tried so far has been eye-opening! This book is geared toward the middle-class and discusses a lot of family concerns, and she acknowledges that a bit, but she probably could have gone a touch further with that. She’s a good writer, too, so this is an engaging nonfiction self-help book. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

14/50

Update to message #19 - 7/50 books read!

January Wrap-Up

Congrats Lilili on finishing your goal early! Enjoy your other challenges!

112 Participants
212 Books read out of a total goal of 3792

Update to Message #11:
#46: A book with a pet character: The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

10/50

Message 24 Updated
Progress: 2/14

15. Song Lyric Hickory Dickory Dock Agatha Christie

4 read Update to #71

Updating message #9:

5/50 completed

36. A book you think your best friend would like The Testaments DONE

37. A book you should have read in high school The Complete Maus DONE

44. A book that was self-published Astridus DONE

Update to Message #225

✅ 29. A book your friend recommended -Undercover Bromance

✅ 6. A book about a forbidden romance -Dime a Demon

Progress 6/20

Update to message 28 - 4/50 books completed.

completed 25 of 50


* done * 1. A book you meant to read in 2022 - Chef's Kiss GN

2. A book you bought from an independent bookstore
3. A book about a vacation

* done * 4. A book by a first-time author - Woodland Academy

* done *5. A book with mythical creatures - witches of peculiar thriller night

6. A book about a forbidden romance
7. A book with "Girl" in the title
8. A celebrity memoir
9. A book with a color in the title
10. A romance with a fat lead
11. A book about or set in Hollywood

* done * 12. A book published in spring 2023 - Fairest of all a villains graphic novel

13. A book published the year you were born

* done * 14. A modern retelling of a classic - A spindle splintered

* done * 15. A book with a song lyric as its title - As old as time

* done *16. A book where the main character's name is in the title - Zatanna and the house of secrets GN

* done * 17. A book with a love triangle - Legendborn

18. A book that's been banned or challenged in any state in 2022

* done *19. A book that fulfills your favorite prompt from a past challenge - Witch Inheritance

20. A book becoming a TV series or movie in 2023
21. A book set in the decade you were born

* done* 22. A book with a queer lead - Hollow GN

23. A book with a map

* done * 24. A book with a rabbit on the cover - Alice in wonderland GN

* done * 25. A book with just text on the cover - The Ickabog

* done * 26. The shortest book (by pages) on your TBR list - the tales of Beedle the Bard

* done * 27. A #BookTok recommendation - the princess and the grilled cheese sandwich

* done *28. A book you bought secondhand - the holiday switch

* done * 29. A book your friend recommended - Howls Moving Castle

30. A book that's on a celebrity book-club list

* done * 31. A book about a family - the house in the cerulean sea kindle

32. A book that comes out in the second half of 2023

* done * 33. A book about an athlete/sport - the sunbearer trials

34. A historical-fiction book
35. A book about divorce
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

* done * 41. A book written during NaNoWriMo- Legends and Lattes

* done * 42. A book based on a popular movie - Batman Nightwalker GN

* done * 43. A book that takes place entirely in one day - Love lies and hocus pocus a study in mischief

* done * 44. A book that was self-published - Heartstoppers vol 3

45. A book that started out as fan fiction

* done * 46. A book with a pet character - over my dead body kindle

* done * 47. A book about a holiday that's not Christmas - The Ex Hex kindle

* done * 48. A book that features two languages - a tale of two princes

49. The longest book (by pages) on your TBR list
50. A book with alliteration in the title

Updated message 247 -- 6/50

Updated message 105

9/50 complete

50. A book with alliteration in the title - Switchboard Soldiers: A Novel read 2/1/2023

Updated msg 29

Just completed #45 (started as fanfic) - The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. This romance has the perfect recipe - interesting characters, a good measure of comedy, a healthy measure of reality and heart, all wrapped around a core of good. Kinda like a delish sea salt caramel! The MC could be considered Demi/graysexual., and I really appreciate the inclusivity. Definitely worth reading! 5 stars

15/50