2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Hi everyone!

Time to nominate books for May! The theme is Mother.

~Please remember to state a connection to the theme when you nominate.

~Books we have read less than three years ago are not eligible. To see which books are not eligible, see this google sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

~ Each person can nominate 1 book.

~ Book must be available both as a physical copy and as an ebook.

~ Authors: Please do not nominate your own book.

~ Please do not nominate books that are part of a series, unless it is the first book.

~ You can second someone else's nomination, but that will count as your nomination.


This thread will be closed by March 25th, and we will choose ten books for the poll. If there are more than ten books nominated, we will choose "seconded" books first. If there is still a tie to get into the top ten, we'll go back to the Goodreads average rating to see which is highest.

I'd like to nominate Little Fires Everywhere. The connection is that this book explores the relationships between two mothers and their children.

I nominate The Lost Daughter which explores the theme of motherhood.

I nominate The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan which is one of the most compelling books about mother and daughter relationships I've ever read.

I nominate Terms of Endearment by Larry McCurty about a mother and daughter.

I second Little Fires Everywhere.

I nominate Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth! It's a "darkly funny" horror novel about a couple that is haunted by the ghost of the husband's mother--literally. Perfect Mother's Day vibes, yes/yes?

I nominate Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift!

I second The Joy Luck Club

I nominate Madame Bovary. Flaubert's novel relates the experiences of a woman's preconceived and romanticized view of married life, which contrasts sharply with her reality and the traditional expectations of motherhood in 19th-century rural and provincial France.

I vote for Madame Bovary.

I would like to nominate The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin.

The relation to the theme is that the story follows Essun, who is in pursuit to save her daughter who has been stolen by her husband. The book is set in a Fantasy/apocalyptic backdrop.

"Essun does not care if the world falls apart around her. She'll break it herself, if she must, to save her daughter."

I am going to nominate I’m Glad My Mom Died which is Jennette McCurdy's memoir about her life as a child star and how her relationship with her mother impacted that.

I'd like to second The Fifth Season

Jordan wrote: "I nominate Madame Bovary. Flaubert's novel relates the experiences of a woman's preconceived and romanticized view of married life, which contrasts sharply with her reality and the trad..."

Second this! I would like to have company for that one.

I'll nominate Mother May I. Connection to the theme is in the title and from the blurb: "A novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves"

I "third" Madame Bovary!

I’d like to nominate, There's Always Chocolate!: A Novel by Abby Irish. Abby Irish's witty style will take you to a place you will never want to leave. There's Always Chocolate! is filled with thoughts and ideas about marriage, family, children, friends, and lovers. It begins with the funeral of Amy's husband and, of course, it's raining. Amy takes you on a short journey through one year of her life that encompasses fun, laughter, wit, embarrassing moments, and tender occasions. Her children are coping well without their dad, because their mom has been there for them in times of need, but Amy is not sure how to cope with her own loss. How will she cope without her mate in life? Now that she is alone, she has many obstacles to handle all by her lonesome. Can she do it? Is she afraid of the dark, being alone, or both? Can she find another captain to sail her away to another island of love?
This could happen to you and maybe it already has. Any woman who has been married for years and has children will appreciate There's Always Chocolate! Let your worries pass you by, just for a few moments during the day, and see where you find yourself at the end of this witty novel.

My nomination: Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Connection to the theme:- A vivid, emotionally complex novel that raises profound questions about motherhood, loss, identity, and forgiveness. It is an exquisite, heartbreaking novel that speaks to women everywhere about the things that matter most.

“Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng

Following the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives. Set in Shaker Heights, Ohio in the 1990s.

I'd like to nominate Like Mother, Like Daughter.

A thriller about a daughter who races to uncover her mother's secret life after her disappearance. Connection to the theme is in the title.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

This memoir beautifully explores the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship, love, loss, and cultural identity.

I second the nomination for Little Fires Everywhere!

Ciara wrote: "I nominate Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth! It's a "darkly funny" horror novel about a couple that is haunted by the ghost of the husband's mother--literally. Perfect Mother's Day vi..."

I second this! It sounds like a fun read!

Susan wrote: "I nominate Terms of Endearment by Larry McCurty about a mother and daughter."

Hi Susan. This one seems to be the third book in a series? Most readers enjoy reading series from start to finish so books nominated has to be the first in the series. Is there something else you would like to nominate instead? 😊

Winter wrote: "Susan wrote: "I nominate Terms of Endearment by Larry McCurty about a mother and daughter."

Hi Susan. This one seems to be the third book in a series? Most readers enjoy reading serie..."

I've read this book and it reads as a stand alone. It's less of a series and more of a characters sharing the same universe sort of thing. Do not need to read the others to read this book. I will second it

Winter wrote: "Susan wrote: "I nominate Terms of Endearment by Larry McCurty about a mother and daughter."

Hi Susan. This one seems to be the third book in a series? Most readers enjoy reading serie..."

I didn't realize that it was part of a series. I don't have any other recommendations.

Normally we would not allow Terms of Endearment, as it is technically part of a series (and not the first of the series). However, we have decided to allow it. It is a very well-known book, even though the first two books in the series are not. Based on Denise’ comment and my own research, it appears to be more of a stand-alone book set in the same location, but it doesn’t rely on reading the other books first.

Winter wrote: "Normally we would not allow Terms of Endearment, as it is technically part of a series (and not the first of the series). However, we have decided to allow it. It is a very well-known book, even th..."

Awesome! Thank you.

I'd like to nominate The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke.
It is an autobiographical style novel based on the real incidents that happened with popular influencer mom Ruby Franke and her channel 8 passengers, written by her daughter Shari Franke.
I read an excerpt from the book and its absolutely chilling.

I second Little Fires Everywhere!

Closing nominations. Fell ill and forgot to close them. Poll is a little late too, but will be up later today 😊 Happy Weekend everyone!

Poll is up! Go vote for our next read! 😊

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...