Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Wedding Planner
🔔Julie

Partiers
🍾Bailey
🍾Alma
🍾Hazel
🍾Heather

1. Introduce yourself to your team. Let your team members know where you are from. This is a 'nice to know' when categories are announced and when team-mates can expect other members to post their book choices.

2. Wedding Planner (Captain) - reserve a couple of posts in this thread tracking your team's book selection and completion. (Alternatively they could convert a chat comment to the tracking post/s.)

3. Name your team. Using this round's theme, come up with a fun name. Given we are an open/public group with no age limit, so please make sure any chosen name is smart, not smutty ;)

Please PM your name to Jane(PS) by 16 April

4. If you have a private profile, please 'friend' your team-mates. This is really important, because without this, your team-mates can't see your shelves to select a books under option 2. (It will also help with one of the categories in this round!)

5. Please post your book selections/completions in the format provided below. (This format is also posted in both the Q&A and Sign-Up threads.) We need to know the week that each book corresponds to, the page numbers, and how the book qualifies including links to lists/shelves (where applicable), etc. I can't stress this enough. When in doubt - link it*!

* don't link to your review in your completion post - reviews in your completion posts should be included in full in that post.

You don't want to start reading a book and then find it doesn't meet the requirements because some information (eg page count or theme link) was missing from your original post.

I will be monitoring this and your book will not be considered complete until I am satisfied that your selection and completion posts comply with the format rules of the challenge.

Remember - you can ONLY change your book selection in the week that the theme is called.

6. You MUST check in with your team each week, ideally once the theme is announced. Please let your team know if you expect to have spotty communication or are on holidays or having an operation, etc.

7. When you post the completion of your book, you must post a review; enough for us to know you have actually read the book. Please don't link to a review. You must post the review in this thread.

8. Re-reads are allowed but you can't read the same book twice within this challenge.

9. There is no prize for the winning team - bragging rights only :)

10. Each week, the theme will be announced in the Q&A/Calls thread. The full list of themes announced during this round will be maintained in msg 1 of that thread.


The Rule on the Pass Option
* Each team can only have ONE member using their pass each week.
* Each member can only use that pass once each 5 weeks.
* This means that one or two team members (dependent upon the size of your team) will miss using a pass in each 5 week block.
* No-one can use the pass option in the last week of the challenge.
* In the final week Option 2 has altered and I will be allocating each team another team from which their book selection must be chosen :)

Key selection and completion post information. You must have ALL elements in your book posts.


For selection post Option 1 you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
How the book qualifies - please note which qualifying bookshelf/list you are using or the tags that justifies that it works.
If the theme is based off the bookcover, post the cover. If there is a letter count in the title, publication date etc, please note these details.

For selection post Option 2 you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Page numbers
Name of the team-member, their star rating, the date they read the book.

For selection post Option 3 you must have:
Week #
PASS


For the completion post you must have:
Week #
Bookcover/link
Rating (1-5)
Review


Please DO NOT CHAT in these selction/completion posts. It needs to be super clear.

If you 'waffle' about your decided book - please REPOST your selection once you decide. DO NOT go back and edit your waffling post.

IF YOU NEED TO CORRECT A POST FOR MISSING INFORMATION or because the didn't qualify etc, please REPOST this information in a NEW post, particularly when the request is more than a day old. Its difficult to find older posts when going backwards in the threads.

Possible Themes: 💒💍Weddings💍💒

1. A wedding unites 2 people
Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series. A series that has only 2 books to date may be used.
Please link to the series page.

2. Rings are exchanged
Read a book with a ring on the cover. Any type of ring ~ eg wedding ring, smoke ring, donut. It must be round and have a clear empty middle.

3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.)
Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name.
These are: full stop (aka period), question mark, exclamation mark, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, brackets, braces, parentheses, apostrophe, quotation mark and ellipsis.
A combined 'title: series' name will work. The proof can be on the main page of GR or on the bookcover. It must be limited to the actual title and/or actual series name. Tangential sentences to the title or series will not work.

4. Music is played ~ before, during or after
Read a book with an MC who is a musician.

5. The ceremony follows well established rituals
Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.
This must be on the main page and not after you extend the genres to a full page list.

6. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly across cultures, religions and social groups
Read a book set in a country outside the USA.
The country must be stated in the precis or on the main page.

7. A wedding takes extensive planning
Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books.

8. Marriage is a legal contract
Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer.

9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event
Read a book with a wealthy character.

10. Popularised by Queen Victoria, the bride will often wear white.
Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country, eg monarch, king, queen, emperor/ess, prince/cess, ruler of a country OR read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).

11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

12. At the end of the vows, the couple will kiss
Read a book with a kiss on the cover by the models, or with the word 'kiss' in the title.

13. Traditionally parents paid for the wedding
Read a book tagged with 'parent'.

14. Family and friends are invited to attend the ceremony
Read a book from a series where each new book is centred on a different couple.
A couple may be repeated in another book in the series, but only once. A compilation catch up, eg a Christmas book with multiple couples is fine.

15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life
Read a book tagged 'holiday' or 'vacation'.

16. And they lived happily ever after
Read a book tagged 'hea'.

Themes, Selection & Completion Posts

Week 1: #11. Dress Code. Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.
Selection - All team completed task
Completion - All team completed task

Week 2: #5. The ceremony follows well established rituals. Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.
Selection - All team completed task
Completion - Julie, Heather, Hazel, Bailey

Week 3: #8. Marriage is a legal contract. Read a book with a main character who is a lawyer.
Selection - Julie, Heather, Hazel, Alma
Completion - Julie, Heather, Hazel
Pass - Bailey

Week 4: #3. There is a public declaration by an official (Minister, celebrant etc.) Read a book with punctuation in the title and/or series name.
Selection - Julie, Heather, Hazel, Bailey
Completion - Heather, Hazel, Bailey, Julie

Week 5: #7 A wedding takes extensive planning. Read a book with a character who is a wedding planner or from a series of more than 5 books.
Selection - Julie, Heather, Bailey, Hazel
Completion - Heather, Hazel, Bailey, Julie

Week 6: #16. And they lived happily ever after. Read a book tagged 'hea'.
Selection - Julie, Hazel, Heather, Bailey
Completion - Julie, Heather, Bailey, Hazel

Week 7: #10 Queen Victoria wore white. Read a book with a character who is considered royal or rules a country OR read a book with a mainly white cover (at least 50%).
Selection - Hazel, Julie, Heather, Bailey
Completion - Hazel, Bailey, Heather, Julie

Week 8: 1. A wedding unites 2 people. Read a book from a 2 book series (duology) or read the 2nd book in a series.
Selection - Heather, Julie, Bailey, Hazel
Completion - Julie, Heather, Hazel, Bailey

Week 9: #9. A wedding is generally a pretty expensive event. Read a book with a wealthy character.
Selection - Julie, Hazel, Heather, Bailey
Completion - Heather, Julie, Bailey, Hazel

Week 10: #15. A honeymoon trip will generally mark the beginning of the couple's married life. Read a book tagged 'holiday' or 'vacation'.
Selection - Julie, Heather, Hazel
Completion - Heather, Hazel, Julie
Pass - Bailey

Week 11:
Selection -
Completion -

Hi all. I'm excited to start another round of PTP & add to my TBR list.

I live on the sunny east coast of Australia with my husband, 3 teens & the laziest Red Heeler who is my shadow. I'm on AEST time, which is 14 hours ahead of US EDT.

I read every day to keep me same in a house full of gamers. I love romance books - fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary are my favourites genres & I don't often read Historical, YA or MM.

I found a few team name options but I'm open to other suggestions as well. Let me know your votes.

Pages Ever After
Starry-Eyed Stories
We Wear Our Hearts On Our Pages
Whispered Words Society
Kiss & Tell

Hi I’m Hazel from Glasgow, Scotland. I live with my husband, teenage son and my 3 year old cockapoo and ragdoll.

I work in Human Resources which seems to be extremely busy at the moment. My son is also studying for his first official school exams which start on 1 May so I’m testing him at night leaving less time for reading than I’m used to.

I’m on GMT so I am 9 hours behind you Julie and 5 hours ahead of EST.

I love romance books and prefer contemporary, dark, suspense, historical romance but not horror.

Here’s what I’ve got for name suggestions
Read-y or not
Next!
Blame it on Tequila
One ring to rule them all
2nd times the charm
Happy ever after
Love at first write
The storybook union
Once upon a wedding

Hi team! I'm Heather from Michigan/US. Such great name suggestions!

I'm a caregiver for my invalid husband (he had a stroke 7 years ago and has declined some since then). I have an Etsy shop and listen almost exclusively to audiobooks while I work on orders and knit and spin. I read most genres but prefer romance, mystery, and women's fiction.

can someone explain how this works cause im still really confused....

Hi Alma

I don’t know what time it is where Julie is so I will try and help out.

It’s useful to tick the box at the bottom of the page to get notified when anyone posts on your team page and also on the page called QA/Calls

Firstly we introduce ourselves and try to decide a team name. Each week Jane will announce the theme task (on the QA/calls page) we have to read a book from. Julie has listed all the possible themes in message 4. If you don’t want to read a book with that theme you have the option of reading a book that someone else on this team has read in the last 6 months (Jane will confirm dates) and rated 3 stars.

We have to post a selection post each week and then a completion post when we have finished the book. The format for these posts are at the top of this page and the initial sign up page.

That’s the basics. You will find more questions and answers in the link to the QA page. If you have more questions I’m sure we are all happy to help out.

My favourite names from the ones listed are
Love at first write
Kiss and tell
Next! (only because it’s short)

♥ Alma ♥ wrote: "can someone explain how this works cause im still really confused...."

The best thing to do is once we kick off, just watch what your team mates are doing and how they have selected their books.

Hazel has outlined the game really well. I would just add that if you go with Option 2, the book you select from one of your teammates shelves has to have been read by them in the last 6 months and be rated 3 stars OR MORE.

There is a 3rd option of passing that week but you can only do this once every 5 week block, and only 1 team member can do it in that week. (This option might be used if you are too busy in real life and are already behind on your books for this challenge.)

Hopefully it will become much clearer after the first call and you can see what everyone else is doing :)

Thanks Hazel for the explanation & the team name ideas too! I think my favourite ones so far are Kiss & Tell & Love At First Write (But honourable mentions for Next! & Blame it on Tequila 😂)

We have until the 16th to decide on a name so we have time for everyone to weigh in with their favourites.

Alma - I hope Hazel & Jane's explanations helped. If you have more questions ask away or send me a message if that's easier. Otherwise, it will become clearer as we start, as Jane mentioned. The good news is you only have to read 1 book a week, so its not overwhelming.

I think my favorite team names are Love At First Write and One Ring To Rule Them All.

Hi all! My name is Bailey and I live in the D.C. area with my husband and our 2 fur babies. I work in early childhood publishing and love to spend my free time reading, journaling, and playing with my dogs. My favorite romance books are usually sci-fi, fantasy, and paranormal.

I like all the suggestions, but I will still throw some in…

Spice Level: Wedding Night
The TBR-idesmaids
Love in the Margins
Arranged marriages & Deranged readers

I send a friend request to Alma since I was friends with everyone else.

I know our choice of name has to be in by tomorrow so my top 2 names are
Love at first write and
TBR-idesmaids

Hazel wrote: "I send a friend request to Alma since I was friends with everyone else.

I know our choice of name has to be in by tomorrow so my top 2 names are
Love at first write and
TBR-idesmaids"

I'd be happy with either of them!

I like both too and it seems everyone is happy either way.

So .... I think The TBR-idesmaids is more wedding specific and unique, and since no one has a strong objection, I will let Jane know that's our team name.

Thanks Hazel & Bailey for the name ideas. I'm always amazed how many creative options people come up with.

With our name picked, we are on the final countdown to our first theme call announced on Friday 18 April between 4-6pm US EST

Things to keep in mind (because sometimes the challenges start to blend together .... or maybe that's just me!):

If you choose …
* Option 1: 11 themes will be picked out of the 16 options - see message #4 above for the list of possible themes, and each is only chosen once during challenge. If the theme includes GoodReads lists - you must pick something from one of the lists.
* Option 2: The book must be rated by a team mate ⭐⭐⭐ or more AND read in the last 6 months.
* Option 3: Each team member can only select to “pass” ONCE in weeks #1-5 and ONCE in weeks #6-10. Each team may only have ONE person 'passing' for the round each week. No-one can use the pass in week 11. So please advise on this team thread early in the week, in consideration of your team mates.

Also:
* You only need to read ONE book each week.
* You must post a selection in the week the theme is called, but you have a bonus week to read & add your completion post if needed.
* 100 pages minimum count for each book
* Your choice of book must be a novel but doesn’t have to be a romance.
* Please use the format in message #3 above for your selection & completion posts to make sure you don’t forget to include anything - for options 1, 2 OR 3.
* A review of your book is required with each completion post - it doesn’t have to be long, just a sentence or two to indicate you have actually read the book.
* Please start a new post for any changes requested instead of editing and existing post (which is harder to keep track of).
* If you are struggling with the challenge commitments, please don’t hesitate to let me or Jane know if there is an issue because life happens. 😊

Dropping in from team 7. Just wanted to say that I love your team’s name :)

Aiswrya wrote: "Dropping in from team 7. Just wanted to say that I love your team’s name :)"

😀

Here's our first call from Jane:

Week 1

Option 1
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

[From Wiki: Semi-formal wear or half dress is a grouping of dress codes indicating the sort of clothes worn to events with a level of formality between informal wear and formal wear. The typical interpretation for men is black tie for evening wear and black lounge suit for day wear, corresponded by either a pant suit or an evening gown for women.

In addition, equivalent versions may be permitted such as ceremonial dresses (including court dress, diplomatic uniforms and academic dress), religious clothing, national costumes, and military mess dress.]

I will be looking for tuxedos or suits (with tie/bowtie), organza, silk and flow/long dresses. Pant suits are also acceptable, along with military dress etc. per above. Men in shirts that are open-necked/undone will not work.

If there are multiple cover-models, only one needs to be dressed per above.

Please show the cover of your book in your selection post.

If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread

Option 2
Key date: 18 October 2024
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars

Option 3
Pass

A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS
Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options.

Selection Post - Week # 1
Bookcover/link: Never Met a Duke Like You
Author: Amalie Howard
Page numbers: 361
How the book qualifies: Couple is in evening dress on the cover

📚Selection post Week 1📚
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

Book: [*book:Gage|50807268]
Pages: 292 kindle edition
How it qualifies: can be seen that male is in formal wear

🍀

Week 1 SELECTION POST - Option 2

The Ministry of Time
Pages: 368, Kindle edition
Read by: Heather on 8 April 2025 & gave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

📚Completion post Week 1📚
11. There is often a dress code chosen by the couple, with many selecting to have a formal or semi-formal event
Read a book with a cover model in a suit or a flowing/formal dress.

Book: [*book:Gage|50807268]
Pages: 292 kindle edition
How it qualifies: can be seen that male is in formal wear
Read: 19 April
Rating: 3⭐️
Review: I enjoyed this but it was a little too much on the ‘everything is always rosy in the garden’ for me. Confirmed bachelor Gage meets Morgan and turns his life around without any 2nd guessing. The relationship between him and Morgan flows pretty straightforwardly with only a little press interference and the bump in the story was a small stumbling block that was easily resolved.
An easy read with not much to process.

Completion Post - Week # 1
Bookcover/link: Never Met a Duke Like You

Rating: ***
Review: This Victorian version of Clueless/Emma was fine, although nothing that I haven't seen before in many other historical romances. It took me a while to get into it and once that happened, I enjoyed the banter. However I thought the pining went on waaaay too long.

Selection Post: Week 1, Option 1

Book: Change of Heart by Kate Canterbary
Pages: 440
Qualification: MCs in formal wear on cover

[*book:Change of Heart|211798857]

COMPLETION POST - Week 1

The Ministry of Time
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
I enjoyed the writing style, premise and the "good, the bad & the ugly" approach to the characters. I did think the end of the book though was a little anticlimactic, given the length of the build up.

INTRODUCTION
Hi my name is Alma i live in florida with my 3 sisters and parents.I
love trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone.I enjoy reading obv and proving people wrong. People often say im too much but idont believe in too much of anything or anyone beacuse when you find the right person youll never have enough

♥ Alma ♥ wrote: "Hi my name is Alma i live in florida with my 3 sisters and parents.I love trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone.I enjoy reading obv and proving people wrong. People often say im too ..."

Hi Alma

Could you please put this selection into a separate post to your intro comments? I need a post for each selection and completion post without other comments. (Its much easier to identify it as a selection or completion post.)

Please refer to msg 3 above:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Note you need to not only link but add the page numbers of the book you plan to read.

and
how to add bookcover links in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Please try to get this format working as it makes it much easier to check your book/s.

Thanks! You'll have it worked out very quickly I am sure :)

Selection Post - Week # 2
Bookcover/link: A Hat Full of Sky

Author: Terry Pratchett
Page numbers: 298
How the book qualifies: MPG Magic

WEEK 2

Option 1
#5. The ceremony follows well established rituals
Read a book with the MPG 'Magic'.

This must be on the main page and not after you extend the genres to a full page list.

If you aren't sure how to insert links in your posts, please read these instructions in the Q&A thread:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Option 2
Key date: 25 October 2024
Team mate read on or after this date and rated at least 3 stars

Option 3
Pass

A selection post must be made for whichever option you choose - INCLUDING A PASS

Refer msg 3 in your team thread for formatting of all 3 options.



OUTSTANDING POSTS
Alma - Please repost your selection in a seperate post as Jane requested for week 1 (Message #32: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) You also have until Friday to read & post a completion of your selected book.

Bailey - you have until Friday to read & post a completion of your selected book.

WEEK 2 - SELECTION POST

Fiendish Delights
Page numbers: 296, Kindle Edition
How the book qualifies - MPG Magic

WEEK 2 - COMPLETION POST

Fiendish Delights
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review:
Another great read by Helen Harper. Fiendish Delights focuses less on a treasure hunt and more on a magical power struggle. As Otis observes, it's also the 'longest session of foreplay the world has ever seen.’ between Daisy & Hugo. However, the book ends on an interesting cliff hanger for Daisy and I'm keen to read what happens next.

Completion Post - Week # 2
Bookcover/link: A Hat Full of Sky

Rating: *****
Review: Nothing sounds good to me lately. Except I'm always happy to reread Tiffany Aching.

Completion Post: Week 1, Option 1

Book: Change of Heart by Kate Canterbary
Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5 stars)
Review:
This was fine, but I got really bored around the 50% mark. This author's writing can be a hit or miss for me. I think the chemistry felt lacking between the two characters and it was just sooooo long.

[*book:Change of Heart|211798857]

Selection Post: Week 2, Option 2

book: Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Pages: 342
Qualification: MPG Magic

[**book:Assistant to the Villain|123257687]

Hey guys-- I may be slow to post the next couple of weeks as I'm having surgery tomorrow. May have to take the pass for the next call but hopefully I'll be up and reading :)

Bailey wrote: "Hey guys-- I may be slow to post the next couple of weeks as I'm having surgery tomorrow. May have to take the pass for the next call but hopefully I'll be up and reading :)"

Thanks for the update Bailey. I hope the surgery goes well & you take care of yourself. 😊

Bailey wrote: "Hey guys-- I may be slow to post the next couple of weeks as I'm having surgery tomorrow. May have to take the pass for the next call but hopefully I'll be up and reading :)"

Sending lots of healing vibes!

yall i dont understand how to put the book cover in it the message doesnt make sense i looked at it
im so srry yall im so dumb

Bailey wrote: "Hey guys-- I may be slow to post the next couple of weeks as I'm having surgery tomorrow. May have to take the pass for the next call but hopefully I'll be up and reading :)"

omgg hope all goes welll sending lots of love

Alma you aren’t dumb - it’s the Goodreads website which is hard to navigate at times. 🙄😉
If you are on a computer (& not the phone app) when writing a comment you will see just above the comment box “add book/author”. There you can select the link to the book or the cover in the comment. Not sure how to select on the app - maybe someone else might know.

♥ Alma ♥ wrote: "yall i dont understand how to put the book cover in it the message doesnt make sense i looked at it"

Hi Alma - this is in the Q&A thread but I've replicated it for you here :). It took all of us a bit of time to get the hang of this site and its idiosyncrasies, so stay with it and hopefully it will all make sense!

How to insert a link into a post

To insert a simple link to a shelf there are a couple of options:

* Copy the https address in the address bar of the page where the book is found - highlight the web-address, copy the address, and paste into your post
or
* Find a link to the shelf that you want (eg on my lists of shelves to use for the themes), right click with your mouse, select 'Copy Link Location' and then paste into your post

If you want to make it pretty and have a specific name:

* Type <*a href="insert the link that you copied as per above">name the location<*/a> but without the asterisks.


How to add in book links

* Click on 'add book/author' on the top right of your message box
* Type on the name of the tilte (if its popular I often add in the first or last name of the author as well)
* Select the correct book from the list and click 'add'
* At the bottom of the pop-up box you may choose whether to add a simple link or use the book cover.

To find the correct version of the book to add:
*** To get the correct version of that book if it isn't the first one:
- click on the 'other editions' (hyperlink under the 'add' button)
- select the correct book

The way I know which version to select from the list is when I look at the book on bookshelf and hover over the cover or the link, down the bottom of the page it shows the hyperlink that GR uses. Remember the last 4 digits on the longer number, then hover over the books in the 'add' list, look for that sequence.

You can also open each book in a new tab if you click on the book in the insertion pop-up window.

I do all this on the desktop version, not in the app.

If you are using the App
To get your posts right for links etc, you need to open your browser window (Safari or Edge etc) on your phone/tablet, go to the GR website and use the desktop version.

I always avoid using GR app on my iphone as it doesn't show posts properly, often leaving out whole bits of information.

Using the desktop version on your phone's web explorer works better but it is such a small screen, its painful :(

So as Julie noted, I always do GR stuff on my computer.

Bailey wrote: "Hey guys-- I may be slow to post the next couple of weeks as I'm having surgery tomorrow. May have to take the pass for the next call but hopefully I'll be up and reading :)"

Best wishes Bailey - hope you heal quickly :)

OHHH I SEE IT NOW TYSMM OK OKAY ILL MAKE MY SELECTION AND COMPLETION POST NOW

Selection Post: Option 1
Week #1

The midnight arrow by Zoey Draven
Page numbers:236
How the book qualifies:it qualifies beacuse julie read it and rated at least 3 stars before october 25 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Publication date:January 21,2025