2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

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 of your own 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! New this year: a set of discussion questions will be posted in the first post of each thread. They are generic so they can be used for any book and are completely optional. Just an idea to get the conversation started!

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/...

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 Archived means the month has been archived and locked.

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

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~

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~

JANUARY - MARCH suggestions are now open!!

You may continue to suggest or confirm December books in this thread as well as I will be locking 2024's thread.

Suggesting for January, but open to any other month:
We Need to Talk About Kevin
The Last Thing He Told Me

So excited for another year of reading with you all!

L'm in for The Last Thing He Told Me in January 2025!

I have been waiting not-so-patiently for January to open, yay :)

I will join in for The Last Thing He Told Me as well.

And I would like to suggest Love in the Time of Cholera for January or February, to open the new year fresh with a good ol' classic.

Anyone up for reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes in January?

Surabhi wrote: "Anyone up for reading I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes in January?"

I am !

Thanks Lorraine !
Let’s read it in January 🌸

Sophia wrote: "And I would like to suggest Love in the Time of Cholera for January or February, to open the new year fresh with a good ol' classic."

I'd like to join you in February for this :)

M wrote: "Sophia wrote: "And I would like to suggest Love in the Time of Cholera for January or February, to open the new year fresh with a good ol' classic."

I'd like to join you in February for this :)"

I will also join in February.

Suggesting for December:

Maybe This Time
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Only Bad Options
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord

You can remove Body Breaker from Dec's list. That's #2 in a series, and the buddy read for book 1 in Nov didn't happen.

On the other hand, please add book 2 of the Cotton Malone series (The Alexandria Link) for December. Lorraine, Kristy, and I are good to move ahead with the series!

Updated

Beth, shall I go ahead and confirm the rest of the series into next year as well?

SarahKat wrote: "Updated

Beth, shall I go ahead and confirm the rest of the series into next year as well?"

Yes SarahKat. We are in for the whole series. Thanks

Can you please remove my suggestion for Truly, Madly in December? Thank you.

SarahKat wrote: "Updated

Beth, shall I go ahead and confirm the rest of the series into next year as well?"

Yes, please!

Updated

Lorraine and I will be reading The North Face of the Heart, On the Proper Use of Stars and The Mighty Red in January. Others are very welcome to join us.

I'd like to suggest 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami for January or February as a 2 month read :)

updated

Orbital just won the Booker Prize - I would like to suggest it for January or February - does anyone want to join me?

Lina wrote: "Orbital just won the Booker Prize - I would like to suggest it for January or February - does anyone want to join me?"

I'm 3rd in line at my library for it. I could have it in 2 weeks or in 4 months.

Hi !
I can read Orbital in February.. January is booked for other buddy reads..

Updated

Jen, I didn't add you but you can of course join later if it looks like you'll get the book around February

SarahKat wrote: "Updated

Jen, I didn't add you but you can of course join later if it looks like you'll get the book around February"

Fair. I reserved a book in March hoping to use it for a buddy read in May. I was 6th in line. I received it last week. It's not a very long book.

Is anyone interested in starting the Alex Cross series by James Patterson? Maybe it's been suggested before. I just binge watched the Amazon Prime series over the weekend and am looking forward to starting the books.

The first is Along Came a Spider (Alex Cross, #1), which is available through Kindle Unlimited (as are books 2 and 3).

Start in December? January?

A few of us are continuing the Emily Wilde series with Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands in December if anyone else wants to join.

Also, I know I'm late to the party, but I'm suggesting Murder on Black Swan Lane for December as well. Possibly continuing the series if we like it.

Updated

Oooh, a group of us have finished the Wrexford and Sloane series, reading the newest book this month. I'd love to have it to read all over again!

I would like to join for Orbital

Hello SarahKat. Dominique and I will continue with the Kay Scarpetta series. Next book for December is Body of evidence. And then we will continue in 2025. Thanks

Others are welcome to join!

Updated

Announcement!

Please make sure your reads for next month are correct and let me know if anything needs changed!

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 Alexandria Link with Lorraine, Kristy, Beth
Body of Evidence with Lorraine, Dominique
The Echo Maker with Lorraine, Valerie, SarahKat
Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands with SarahKat, TerryJane, Michelle
The Heavens May Fall with Lorraine, Jannene
The Lacuna with Valerie, Lorraine
Revelation with Beth, Lorraine, Carmen, Nancy
Study for Obedience with Valerie, Lorraine
The Vegetarian with Surabhi, Anshika

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

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord with Elaine
Along Came a Spider with Beth
Dragons of Autumn Twilight with Elaine
Fayne: A Novel with Martha
Lightseekers with SarahKat
Maybe This Time with Elaine
Murder on Black Swan Lane with SarahKat
Only Bad Options with Elaine

I'd like to suggest Fayne: A Novel by Ann-Marie MacDonald for December.

Hi SarahKat
Heartstone has been move to January. For December, we will read Revelation.
Thanks

Thanks Lorraine. Forgot to delete that from the list. Fixed!

I'll also suggest Lightseekers for December

Updated

SarahKat wrote: "Thanks Lorraine. Forgot to delete that from the list. Fixed!

I'll also suggest Lightseekers for December

Updated"

No problem SarahKat. I will join you for Lightseekers.

SarahKat wrote: "Thanks Lorraine. Forgot to delete that from the list. Fixed!

I'll also suggest Lightseekers for December

Updated"

I will join Lightseekers as well!

Beth, are you planning on reading the whole Alex Cross series?

Dominique wrote: "Beth, are you planning on reading the whole Alex Cross series?"

Yep, I’m in for all of them.. 👍🏻

I'll join Beth for Along Came a Spider in December

Beth wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Beth, are you planning on reading the whole Alex Cross series?"

Yep, I’m in for all of them.. 👍🏻"

Thanks!

Dominique wrote: "Beth wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Beth, are you planning on reading the whole Alex Cross series?"

Yep, I’m in for all of them.. 👍🏻"

Thanks!"

Have you seen the Cross series on Amazon Prime? I binged it last weekend... I really enjoyed it. The person who watched it with me has read a lot of the book series and said the TV series isn't based on any book but instead only the characters.

Beth wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Beth wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Beth, are you planning on reading the whole Alex Cross series?"

Yep, I’m in for all of them.. 👍🏻"

Thanks!"
Didn't start yet but did check to see which book the first season was and they said that they wanted to go in anothger direction with the character. DId you like it?
Have you seen the Cross series on Amaz..."

Dominique wrote: "Beth wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Beth wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Beth, are you planning on reading the whole Alex Cross series?"

Yep, I’m in for all of them.. 👍🏻"

Thanks!"
Didn't start yet but did ..."

Yes! I binged it in one sitting. 🤭

Updated

I would like to join in for The Last Thing He Told Me for January. TY!

I would like to join Emily Wilde's map of the otherlands for December!

SarahKat, can you extend Noble House into December please? I forgot to ask before. Sorry
Thanks

Updated

I've been debating if I have time, but what the heck?!? Would you please add me to the Kay Scarpetta series starting in December? Thanks!