Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book rated less than three stars on Goodreads.


It's easy enough to sort your TBR shelf on Goodreads by rating to find a book to read, but it's challenging perhaps to find a GOOD book to read!!! I might tackle this by finding a brand new book that has very few (or no) ratings yet.


I don't think a Listopia will be valuable for this one.

This Listopia already exists: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Oh now, this just hurts.

Honestly I'm mad about this one. If people want to finish out a series they already started I guess they could read The Atlas Complex but I can't really recommend it; it would just be for completion in case anyone has read some of this series but hasn't finished it.

The lowest rated book on my TBR is this Amazon free short: The Garden at 2.8. Sounds like a good thing to tackle on January 1, just to get it out of the way.

Chelsea wrote: "Honestly I'm mad about this one. If people want to finish out a series they already started I guess they could read The Atlas Complex but I can't really recommend it; it would just ..."

Ooph, that makes me not want to bother with book two, let alone finishing the series!

I'm either going to pick something very short or hope to read a new release before anyone else has rated it.

Star Wars: Empire's End is listed currently with a 2.90 average. I gave it a rating of 2, but I may enjoy it more on a reread. It's at least a backup choice.

Ellie wrote: "Chelsea wrote: "Honestly I'm mad about this one. If people want to finish out a series they already started I guess they could read The Atlas Complex but I can't really recommend it..."

I thought Book 2 actually built up some decent momentum, but then Book 3 tanked HARD. It is very difficult for the final book in a series to get less than 3 stars because the people who keep reading the series are generally more inclined to like it (as opposed to those who don't like it and stop reading) so I think it shows how much people think Blake flubbed the landing.

I have one book (that's already published) with less than a 3: a graphic novel called Nightmare in Savannah at 2.95 so I will either read that or try to read an ARC before anyone else.

I had Y/N by Esther Yi on my list for last year for some challenge - it has a less than 3 star rating and is also a book beginning with "Y".

I actually have a few on my TBR that I don’t hate the idea of reading. They are mostly old horror books of the Paperbacks from Hell variety. I am fully expecting them to be kind of horrible but that’s okay.

I also had one graphic novel The Warning Volume 1 with a poor rating. If all else fails I could go that way.

Other options for fellow horror lovers:
Nothing But Blackened Teeth
Everything the Darkness Eats

And then Owen King’s book The Curator has below a 3 star rating that has me a little curious, but that one is much longer so maybe a tougher pill to swallow.

Karen wrote: "I had Y/N by Esther Yi on my list for last year for some challenge - it has a less than 3 star rating and is also a book beginning with "Y"."

For the K-pop prompt, right? I mean, you could also use it for 20 - A book that fills a 2024 prompt you'd like to do over (or try out) and do three at once!

I read a lot of random stuff, so I didn't think this would be hard, but I only have 5 books on my TBR (of over 1300) that are less than 3! One of them was a gift from my mom years ago that I started, honestly wasn't too into it (though it wasn't torturous), and never finished. That would be a good pick. (Quiver, if you're curious)

Karen wrote: "I had Y/N by Esther Yi on my list for last year for some challenge - it has a less than 3 star rating and is also a book beginning with "Y"."

I read this for K-pop and thought it well deserved its low rating.

Two books I didn’t think deserved to rate so badly are Red House by Mark Haddon which I think was downgraded for not being another Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Strange Hotel

I finally had a moment to sort my TBR and see what I've got ... I have 1358 books on my TBR list, and only TWO are 3 stars or fewer. So, I could FLEX this category and use the book with exactly 3 stars (and I think I'm probably going to do this - it's about ZOMBIES by a local author - ZOMBIES IN MY TOWN YES!!!), and the other one is a Superwomen graphic novel that has 2.58 stars, it's the third in a series and I gave the second one 2 stars so I'm surprised I even put the third one on my list.

Or I can stick with my original plan and try to read a book before it has any stars at all, but that's difficult.

Nadine in NY wrote: Or I can stick with my original plan and try to read a book before it has any stars at all, but that's difficult..."

Good luck with that. People rate books before they're even published. Or even written when it comes to Winds of Winter.

Of the books I've actually read that would qualify:

Nothing But Blackened Teeth: this was a 3 star for me, and I will say it was not that scary if you are worried about that

Passenger to Frankfurt: did you know Agatha Christie wrote a spy thriller based on the premise that maybe Adolf Hitler escaped to South America and had a son? It's *really* bad.

Everything else manages to get above a 3 star average.

Maybe I'll leave this one until later in the year, and someone will have mentioned a book worth reading.

I've got one on my shelf - Topics of Conversation

Chrysalis and Requiem was not particularly good but also wasn't awful, just mildly incomprehensible. I might end up finishing out the Atlas series just because one of my goals for 2025 is to actually start finishing series that have all the books released.

This one is a big NOPE for me. I always end up with a few books that I end up not liking and unexpectedly rating under 3 myself, so I’m just going to twist the prompt to that and retroactively assign this one.

Life is too short to read books with terrible ratings, there are too many great ones to read!

Never Flinch by Stephen King: kind of a cheat as it's not yet published and only has 5 ratings but...

At first I was not excited by this prompt, but then a book I own and am really looking forward to only has a 2.96?? So I'll be reading Saha by Cho Nam-Joo. (She wrote Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 which I loved, so I wonder why this one has such a low rating)

Joyce wrote: "Karen wrote: "I had Y/N by Esther Yi on my list for last year for some challenge - it has a less than 3 star rating and is also a book beginning with "Y"."

I read..." haha I also read it for this year and agree, it had a low rating for me, too. really hope the book I read for this prompt pleasantly surprises me!

Jackie wrote: "Nothing But Blackened Teeth: this was a 3 star for me, and I will say it was not that scary if you are worried about that..."

A bunch of my Goodreads friends liked this one, so I'm going to pencil this in. Hopefully it doesn't bob above 3 stars before next year 😆

Stay Up with Hugo Best was on my tbr and has a 2.9 on here. I’m gonna give it a shot lol

Joyce wrote: "Karen wrote: "I had Y/N by Esther Yi on my list for last year for some challenge - it has a less than 3 star rating and is also a book beginning with "Y"."

I read..."

Yes, my only 1 star read of the year! It's a good pick for this prompt though, because it's the sort of bad that is also kind of fascinating. And it's really short.

I have a few random books I picked up through the years. Not all of them are available in English; but these come to mind:
Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke - Honestly, it was an experience. A slightly f-ed up one, but an experience nonetheless.

Woyzeck - This one is an Austrian classic play, if you want to read something short.

Gork, the Teenage Dragon - it's kind of funny from the first few pages I read, this is my most likely pick for this prompt.

Closest I can see on my shelves is Please Report Your Bug Here which I read 2ish years ago. It has a 3.01 average, but I personally loved it and gave it 5 stars lol, so if anyone is fudging the prompt slightly, that's one I'd actually recommend.

I found one rated at 2.86 on my TBR, but my question is what if the rating changes before I get it read? Is there any reason to plan ahead on this one?

I'm just taking it as under 3 when the prompt list was published i.e. on 2 December 24.

LeahS wrote: "I'm just taking it as under 3 when the prompt list was published i.e. on 2 December 24."

I can accept that reasoning. It removes worry...and I get to stay with my choice of Listen to Me. Thanks, LeahS

I'm ok with this and interpreting in different ways (my challenge, my rules). 1. I'm looking at the lowest overall rating of all books on my TBR (3.01). 2. I'm looking at the people I follow on GR and seeing books to which they individually gave < 3 stars (this is most likely where I'll take this prompt). 3. Pick authors I like and find their lesser reviewed books - Sophie Hannah, for example... has a book at 2.95. So, I think this prompt will be just fine!

Ally wrote: "2. I'm looking at the people I follow on GR and seeing books to which they individually gave < 3 stars..."

You're a genius! The prompt doesn't specify average rating, even though it's probably what they meant, but that's a great option for anyone not wanting to suffer.

Ellie wrote: "Ally wrote: "2. I'm looking at the people I follow on GR and seeing books to which they individually gave

You're a genius! The prompt doesn't specify average rating, even though it's probably wha..."

So glad you found that idea helpful!

I also just thought about a book that is about giving a bad rating or has a bad rating in its title. I recently put a book called, "Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend" by M.J. Wassmer on my TBR.

I also recently read a thriller by Taylor Adams called "The Last Word" about a reader who gives a book a 1 star rating and then terror ensues. So, that's an idea too.

I'm a big believer in "my challenge, my rules." :)

I'm just going to read a PDF version of The Eye of Argon, a legendarily bad novella that often gets read aloud at sci-fi conventions. It's free, less than a hundred pages, and if I'm going to read something terrible at least I want to read something hilariously bad.

I didn't find any on my massive TBR, but Goodreads also doesn't seem to be sorting my list correctly. I did find a list of books rated less than 3 stars and think I might give this one a try-Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later

It may not be good but will be nostalgic for me!

Ally wrote: "Ellie wrote: "Ally wrote: "2. I'm looking at the people I follow on GR and seeing books to which they individually gave

You're a genius! The prompt doesn't specify average rating, even though it'..."

I love your ideas! I may use one of them. Thanks!

Books I've read and recommend:
A CUP FOR JANET By EMILY THORNE Airmont PB 1957 1963 Hardcover Emily Thorne (I rated 4 stars)
Abdication (I rated 3 stars)

So….the rating that we all see next to a book on Goodreads is the average rating for everyone who has left a rating. The prompt does not ask for a book with an average rating of 3 stars or under but just for a book with a rating of 3 stars or under. Therefore even if you read a book with a high 4star average as long as someone has rated it below 3 stars then you are most definitely fulfilling the actual wording of the prompt.

Kenya wrote: "I'm just going to read a PDF version of The Eye of Argon, a legendarily bad novella that often gets read aloud at sci-fi conventions. It's free, less than a hundred pages, and if I'm..."

I will join you in this. Thanks for pointing it out!

Beth wrote: "I didn't find any on my massive TBR, but Goodreads also doesn't seem to be sorting my list correctly. I did find a list of books rated less than 3 stars and think I might give this one a try-[book:..."

omg I'm actually kind of tempted, I read all the Sweet Valley High books I could get my hands on when I was a kid. I even had the board game. I don't think I will read it but I'm curious about what Elizabeth does to get back at Jessica.

I found this helpful. I might try Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah. https://bookmarklit.net/2019/05/17/bo...

Donna wrote: "The prompt does not ask for a book with an average rating of 3 stars or under but just for a book with a rating of 3 stars or under. Therefore even if you read a book with a high 4star average as long as someone has rated it below 3 stars then you are most definitely fulfilling the actual wording of the prompt"

I love this interpretation of the prompt and may go this route.

Andrea wrote: "Right now, City of Night Birds, the new Reese Witherspoon book club pick, has below a 3 star rating. It looks like a lot of people gave it a low rating solely because it featured R..."
I just checked and it is already at 3.83 on December 7, 2024.

Bea wrote: "LeahS wrote: "I'm just taking it as under 3 when the prompt list was published i.e. on 2 December 24."

I can accept that reasoning. It removes worry...and I get to stay with my choice of Lis..."</i>

And [book:Listen to Me includes a road trip and there are at least two other books with that same title!

Ally wrote: "I'm ok with this and interpreting in different ways (my challenge, my rules). 1. I'm looking at the lowest overall rating of all books on my TBR (3.01). 2. I'm looking at the people I follow on GR ..."

Brilliant interpretations!

Jamie wrote: "I found this helpful. I might try Sam and Ilsa's Last Hurrah. https://bookmarklit.net/2019/05/17/bo..."

Excellent resource! Thanks for posting!

I read The Recipe Club: A Tale of Food and Friendship a little over 4 years ago and loved it! It still only has a cumulative rating of 2.85, if you're following the interpretation of using this statistic. This book made me wonder what other books I may really enjoy but may be missing just because others haven't liked it as well I did! 😁😉 It was much more complex than I had expected it to be.

L Y N N wrote: "I just checked and it is already at 3.83 on December 7, 2024"

I saw! I suspected it would go up eventually as it just recently came out.

Here are some books I've read that have below a 3 star average rating:
Topics of Conversation- felt pointless
The Perishing- this was a confusing and disjointed read
Cari Mora- I think this was just disappointing; I've already forgotten the plot
Y/N- I actually liked this one
Tirant lo Blanc- don't know if I just read a bad translation, but I just found this too melodramatic but I guess thats what you should expect when you read a Knight tale from the Middle Ages

I was also researching road trip books and came across How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days, which has an average rating below a 3.

Some from my TBR listing:
I've really been wanting to read this one! Lulu in Marrakech by Diane Johnson
AND...
Cloud Dancer by Mary Ann McGuigan
Shadow Play: A Mystery by Rajorshi Chakraborti
The Figures of Beauty by David MacFarlane
The Clansman (Reconstruction Trilogy #2) by Thomas Dixon Jr.
Death of the Black-Haired Girl by Robert Stone
Loop Group by Larry McMurtry
The Other Story by Tatiana de Rosnay
The Book Borrower by Alice Mattison
Flying Shoes by Lisa Howorth
The Glitch by Elisabeth Cohen
Murders at Moon Dance by A.B. Guthrie Jr.
Panic in a Suitcase by Yelena Akhtiorskaya
Pamela: Or Virtue Rewarded (Oxford World's Classics) by Samuel Richardson by Samuel Richardson THIS IS A CLASSIC
Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam
The Garden (Into Shadow #1) by Tomi Adeyemi FANTASY & SHORT STORY
Polite Society by Mahesh Rao RETELLING OF JANE AUSTEN'S EMMA
After Alice by Gregory Maguire
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
Daughters of Captain Cook by Linda Spalding
Merger on the Orient Expressway by Mary Blount Christian
How Could She by Lauren Mechling
The Diagnosis by Alan Lightman
Vengeance Is Mine by Marie NDiaye
Local Girls by Caroline Zancan
The Evening Road by Laird Hunt BEEN WANTING TO READ THIS TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER TRY...
Noon by Aatish Taseer
Bookish People by Susan Coll ANOTHER ONE I REALLY WANT TO READ!
Black Olives by Martha Tod Dudman
Ballroom by Alice Sherman Simpson
A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia REALLY REALLY WANT TO READ THIS ONE!
Lost Hearts in Italy by Andrea Lee ANOTHER ONE I OWN AND REALLY WANT TO READ!
The Weeping Woman by Zoé Valdés
The Actress by Amy Sohn
Black Deutschland by Darryl Pinckney
Knee-Deep in Wonder by April Reynolds
Tales of the Islanders by Charlotte Brontë
Murder on the Eiffel Tower (Victor Legris #1) by Claude Izner
Lydia's Party by Margaret Hawkins
Perfect Reader by Maggie Pouncey
See Now Then by Jamaica Kincaid
Goldberg Variations by Susan Isaacs
Between You and Me by Emma McLaughlin
Perfect Life by Jessica Shattuck
The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones
The Oriental Wife by Evelyn Toynton
The Boy Who Could Fly without a Motor by Theodore Taylor FANTASY JUVENILE
The Eye of Jade (Mei Wang Mystery #1) by Diane Wei Liang I'VE OWNED THIS ONE FOR YEARS AND REALLY WANT TO READ IT!
The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud
The Dove's Necklace by Raja Alem
The Female Detective by Andrew Forrester
Murder at the Book Club (Barrett & Palmer #1) by Betsy Reavley
Left in the Wind: A Novel of the Lost Colony: The Roanoke Journal of Emme Merrimoth by Ed Gray
The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix Gray

NONFICTION:
Unveiling Whiteness in the Twenty-First Century: Global Manifestations, Transdisciplinary Interventions by Veronica Watson
The Changing Terrain of Race and Ethnicity by Maria Krysan
The Equal Society: Essays on Equality in Theory and Practice by George Hull
Ending Mass Incarceration: Ideas from Today's Leaders by Inimai Chettiar
Double Stars: The Story of Caroline Herschel by Padma Venkatraman YA BIOGRAPHY OF A FEMALE SCIENTIST
Woman, Child For Sale by Gilbert King

This is what happens when you add any and all books you think you may be interested in reading...as long as you live to be approximately 1,000 years old!! LOL