SarahKat’s Comments (group member since Jan 11, 2017)

SarahKat’s comments from the 2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge group.

I just started and got to that point and it's turning out to be my favorite too. I love that there's more at stake than just solving a mystery. I know he's been in danger before but this just feels much closer to home which I like.

Marleen wrote: "Hey SarahKat, sorry but I have decided to dnf this one after all. I am really not vibing with it, and not interested in how the story will go on, and it’s just too long a book for continuing while ..."

That's okay Marleen! Sorry you didn't like this one.

Updated

I've started this. Just a few quick thoughts from Part 2. (view spoiler)[I got a little lost in the last chapter. I'm hoping when Din reports to Ana I'll catch up on what's actually going on. I guess I was distracted over the weekend when trying to read this.
What I've gathered is some horrible contagion killed a whole lot of people. I'm enjoying this just as much as the first book! (hide spoiler)]

This thread is now closing! 2026 sign-ups are up!

JANUARY - MARCH suggestions are now open!

You may continue to suggest/confirm books for December as well as I will be locking 2025's thread. Looking forward to another great year with you all!

NOVEMBER BUDDY READS ARE POSTED HERE!
Feel free to jump into any discussion, even if your name is not on the participant list!

Upcoming Buddy Reads
Check the Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Note: It is a good idea to double check the spreadsheet for the buddy reads you have already signed up for. If changes need to be made, please let the mods know in this thread ASAP.
The spreadsheet is updated more often than this post.

Books Confirmed for December
A thread will be created on or around November 25th to discuss these books. If you would like to be added or need to drop out, please post your request in this thread!

The Alice Network with Amitha, Victoria, SarahKat
Close to Death with Beth, Susan, Dominique, SarahKat, Lorraine
A Darker Shade of Magic with Charlotte, Valerie, Dominique
Double Cross with Beth, Dominique, Blagica, Cordelia
The Frozen River with Susan, Cordelia, Dominique, Allison, Syd, Patricia, LinaVer
Gleanings with SarahKat, Dominique, Billie-Jade
The Mad Wife with Susan, Beth
The Meiji Guillotine Murders with Lorraine, Valerie
Predator with Beth, Susan, Lisa Marie
Throne of Glass with Susan, Charlotte

These books are SUGGESTED for December
Buddies have until November 25th to join these Buddy Reads, or no thread will be created.

Marley with Beth

Updated October 27, 2025

Happy Buddy Reading!
~SarahKat~

BUDDY READS SIGN-UP THREAD

Welcome to Buddy Reads! You are in the right place if you are looking for a small group of people to discuss books with. Suggest books that you might need a little extra motivation to pick up, or that you just want to enjoy with a group! Or, join in a book that’s already on the list that strikes your fancy. Sign up for as many or as few as you want, just please don’t overbook ;) yourself and leave your buddies hanging!

If you’re new here: We’re glad to have you! Read through the instructions, the FAQ, and some posts in this thread to see how all of this works, then feel free to jump in!
If you’re not new here: We’re glad to have you back for another great year of reading!

LINKS

November's Current Reads: Feel free to jump in to any discussion posted here even if your name isn’t on the list!
Next month’s reads so far: See anything you’d like to join? Comment in this thread and let us know.
Buddy Read FAQ: Want a little more information on how all of this works? Read through some frequently asked questions or ask one of your own.
2025 Spreadsheet: most up-to-date list and info on all buddy reads coming up for the year: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
2026 Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

TIMELINE
Suggestions are open about 4 months in the future.
You have until the 25th of each month to suggest and confirm books for the following month. At that time, confirmed books will be posted in threads by the mods.

Here are the statuses of each month. Open means you may suggest and confirm books for those months. Closed means please hold off suggesting books for those months until they open. Posted means that month is up and you can comment in the threads. Archived means the month has been archived and locked.

October: Posted
November: Posted
December: Open
2026
January: Open
February: Open
March: Open
April: Closed
May: Closed
June: Closed
July: Closed
August: Closed
September: Closed
October: Closed
November: Closed
December: Closed

INSTRUCTIONS

To suggest a buddy read, please comment in this thread and include:
The book title and author (using the “add book” function if you can is helpful)
The month you are wanting to read it, EVEN IF you are open to almost any month. We need somewhere to put it to start off.
If it’s part of a series, indicate if you are suggesting the entire series or just one book. You can of course always come back and suggest the remaining books if need be.
Examples:
I’d like to suggest The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver for February (open to other months)
Suggesting The Gunslinger by Stephen King for January, and the rest of the Dark Tower series to follow.

To join/confirm a buddy read, please comment in this thread and include:
The book you are joining
Confirm the month it was suggested for– or if the original suggester was open to other months, which you would prefer.
If you are joining a book from a series, let us know if you want to join for the entire series or just the current book.
Example:
I’ll join for The Poisonwood Bible. Can we do it in March?
I will join for The Gunslinger in January. Just the first book for now.

Happy Reading!
~Your Buddy Read Mod- SarahKat~

I'm starting this

Congrats Jana and Victoria on completing your goals!

Congrats Susan and Barbara for completing your goals this year!

🎊🎉Congratulations Lynette, D.L., and Margie on completing your goals for 2025!! 🎉🎊

Welcome Laura! It's never too late to jump into clearing the shelves!

Florita, this is the thread for the 2025 challenge. The 2026 challenge will be posted mid-December.

Alexandra you can jump into that conversation whenever. It's posted here

I'm in for 3! None of my other planned books is any help with any of my other pets.

S:
I:
F:

Update to Message 16: 10/10

1. (Un)Lucky Numbers: Read a book with 3, 4, 7, 8, or 13 in its title or series number. Each of these numbers is considered lucky in one culture while unlucky in another.
A Line to Kill by Anthony Horowitz (series #)
2. Don't Walk Under a Ladder: Read a book in which someone purposefully walks, hikes, or climbs.
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
3. Find a Four-Leaf Clover: Read a book set in Ireland or a book with a green cover.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
4. Find a Horseshoe: Read a book that includes horses, or a book with a door on the cover.
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González (door on cover... possibly a window, but I thought it was a door when I looked at it so I'm counting it)
5. Have a Lucky Wedding: Read a book featuring something old, something new, something borrowed, or something blue.
Fairy Tale by Stephen King - borrowed from the library and blue cover
6. Don't Break the Mirror: Read a book where a mirror is used as a plot device, or with something broken on the cover.
Lady Oracle by Margaret Atwood
7. Knock on Wood: Read a book with a tree on the cover, or a book including a carpenter or builder.
Two Twisted Crowns by Rachel Gillig
8. Don't Let a Black Cat Cross Your Path: Read a book with a cat on the cover, or involving witchcraft.
The Late-Night Witches by Auralee Wallace - both!
9. Lucky Penny: Read a book about making money, or with a unit of currency in the title.
Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
10. Don't Spill the Salt: Read a book featuring a cook, or with the letters S-A-L-T in the title.
Spellbook of the Lost and Found by Moïra Fowley-Doyle

November Buddy Reads are up!

This thread is to discuss The Lost Order, the twelfth book in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry.

Pages: 493 pages

Length: 1 month (November)

Participants: Kristy, Cordelia

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?

Thank you for responding Kristy. I will add book 12 for November

This thread is to discuss The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins.

Pages: 320 pages

Length: 1 month (November)

Participants: Susan, Dominique, Alexandra

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?

This thread is to discuss The Grace Year by Kim Liggett.

Pages: 416 pages

Length: 1 month (November)

Participants: Susan, Dominique

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Here are some questions to help get the conversation started! Feel free to look up discussion questions specific to this book or come up with your own. Just make sure any questions that contain spoilers are under spoiler tags.
Discussion questions are not required but may be a fun way to talk about the book and get to know each other!

Prior to starting:
What prompted you to join this buddy read?
Have you read this author before? What do you think of their other books?

Mid-read:
What character or ideas do you relate to the most and why?
Do you have any favorite quotes or scenes?

After reading:
What was enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable about this book?
Did this book change your perception about anything, either within the book (character development) or in real life?