Mount TBR Challenge 2025 discussion

Howdy! I started on Mount Blanc (first 24 books here), but having completed the challenge in record time compared to previous years -- and noting the number of short books I own and expect to love yet simply never make time to actually stop and read -- I think it's time for this one.

25. The Peacock Summer - Hannah Richell
Bought 2 years ago at a garage sale (had been on Goodreads TBR longer, library didn't have it). I loved it; so happy it's mine!

26. Wind Dancer - Chris Platt
Bought 2 years ago because of pretty cover + I like her books. It will probably stay my least fave, but I still liked it & I want to collect her whole stable of horse books, so keeping.

27. Only In Alaska: The Adventures of a Young Family in a Young State - Tay Thomas
Very interesting 1969 memoir I bought at a library sale 3 years ago; keeping because it's unique.

28. The Geography of Lost Things - Jessica Brody
One of the prettiest covers I own, have meant to read it every year since I got it in 2019, and finally have! So satisfying, definitely keeping.

29. The Lightning Circle - Vikki VanSickle
Bought in December but still counts! A pretty book; probably would not have gone out of my way to get if the library had had it, but now I want to keep it.

30. Afraid to Ride - C.W. Anderson
A very slender children's paperback that I finally made time to read & savor, and I'm so happy I did.

31. Griffin & Sabine - Nick Bantock
32. Sabine's Notebook
33. The Golden Mean

I can't even tell you how many years I've had this trilogy, under the spell of anticipation but always too nervous I wouldn't like it to actually do more than pull letters from envelopes and admire the artwork without reading the words. Now I'm FINALLY in the know.

Additions from the rest of summer:

34. The Gryphon - Nick Bantock
35. Alexandria - Nick Bantock
36. The Morning Star - Nick Bantock
^ I've had the sequel trilogy for ages too; enjoyed these just as much and will definitely be keeping them too.

37. Passenger Princess - Morgan Elizabeth
Won in a giveaway last year. Did not like, will be rehoming.

38. The Island of Beyond - Elizabeth Atkinson
Picked up at a book sale a couple of years ago; lovely middle grade. Keeping for now but may donate eventually.

39. The Many Lives of John Stone - Linda Buckley-Archer
Bought "just to read" at a library sale 4 years ago; enjoyed it but will be donating this chunky book back from whence it came.

40. The Serviceberry - Robin Wall Kimmerer
One of the last books I got last year...but still counting it! Quick, lovely read, but will be donating.

41. Sit! Stay! Speak! - Annie England Noblin
Bought at Goodwill almost exactly 7 years ago, I liked this one enough to keep for a while.

42. St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets - Annie England Noblin
This, on the other hand, even though I adore the cover, was a quick "read once & release."

43. Revenge of the Dolls - Carol Beach York
Picked up in a Little Free Library a couple of years ago, this tiny little slip of a spooky kids' book takes up no space at all so I'm keeping it. I just love how much she can do in so few pages.

Time to finish 'er off!

44. The Summer I Found You - Jolene Perry
Bought 4 years ago at a library sale after more years of wanting to read it. Cute YA romance; will let go someday but keeping until I've read more of her books.

45. Safe Harbour - Christina Kilbourne
Bought 2 years ago at a library sale after being on my Goodreads TBR since 2019. Really liked it, keeping.

46. Just Visiting - Dahlia Adler
Bought 4 years ago at a used bookstore, liked it way more than I thought I would! Keeping.

47. Nantucket Blue - Leila Howland
Bought somewhere in the late 2010s at Dollar Tree, will be donating this one since I ended up getting a bind-up of this & the sequel in order to read the latter.

And a quick break from the contemporary YA run to finish it out...

48. Peace Breaks Out - John Knowles
Bought last year at a library sale, liked it more than the first book, definitely keeping.

Congrats!