Hooked on Books discussion

🔐 Welcome to Your Box.

The lock is real. The box is closed. But the two of you? You have the keys.

This is your personal team thread. Each week, you’ll receive a new reading prompt. Each of you will choose a book, read it, and post your reflection here. Once both reflections are posted, a key turns—and the box reveals a message just for you.

You must complete all 12 keyholes to open the box in Week 13.

You can use this thread for:
🔐 Weekly reflections
🔐 Talking with your partner
🔐 Celebrating when a new lock opens

Your first prompt arrives Sunday at 6pm CT. You’ll know it when you see it.

Until then: get to know each other. Decide who’s reading what.
And whatever you do… don’t open it yet.

📖 Weekly Check-In Format
When you finish your book, post the info below in this thread to let your partner know you're ready. Once both of you have posted your reflections, one of you should check in on the main thread to unlock your keyhole.

• Week: (e.g., Week 1)
• Book Title:
• Author:
• Page Count:
• Reflection: Your response to the week’s prompt.

🔎 Weekly Check-In Thread
This is how your keyhole gets unlocked.
No check-in, no click.

How to check in:
Just post your team name and a link to your team thread.

Example:
Team: The Locked Hearts
Thread: [insert link here]

Once I see your check-in, your message will appear in your thread—if you’ve earned it.

Team 5:
Jessica
🗝️ Amanda

Found us :)

I'm here :) I can see some other teams have names. If you have one in mind, go for it. I was thinking 'Locked In' or 'Locked and Loaded'

I liked Locked and Loaded! I'll go let Lisa know

🔐 Week 1 Prompt: What You Bring With You
Some locks don’t need a key—they open for what you carry.
Choose a book that reflects something you bring to this partnership:
a personality trait, a past experience, a strength, a flaw—anything that shapes how you read and relate.

Each of you will choose your own book and explain what you're bringing to the box

• Week: 1
• Book Title: The Four Winds
• Author: Kristin Hannah
• Page Count: 464
• Reflection: Motherhood kind of becomes your personality when you have children. Elsa is an amazing mother, caretaker and friend, and I like to think I care for my friends here as well.

• Week: 1
• Book Title: Remnants of Relics: An Anthology of Loss & Gain
• Author: Jake Vanguard
• Page Count: 245
• Reflection: l have experienced both plenty of loss and plenty of gain and it has shaped who I am

🗝️ Week 1 Response
This box doesn’t open on its own.
It opened because you showed up as yourself.

What did you learn about each other through these picks?

Each unlock is an invitation. What matters now is how you respond and continue the conversation—nothing more is needed.

🔐 Week 2 Prompt: Judge This Book
Some locks don’t care what’s inside—only how it looks.
Choose a book based solely on the cover.
No blurbs. No reviews. No second guesses. Just vibes.

I love that. I'm going to find a book I know nothing about and see what happens.

I have to find a white cover for toys so will just pick one only because it fits the cover color!

• Week: 2
• Book Title: The Prince and the Pauper
• Author: Mark Twain
• Page Count: 240
• Reflection: Chose this book only because of the cover

• Week: 2
• Book Title: The Black King
• Author: Sam Burns
• Page Count: 180
• Reflection: epic cover

🔐 Week 3 Prompt: Your Missing Piece
Some locks stay closed because something’s missing.
Choose a book that fills a gap in your reading life—something you’ve been avoiding, neglecting, or meaning to try.
Even better if it’s outside your comfort zone.

🗝️ Week 2 Response
Looks can be deceiving.
But sometimes… they’re not.

If your partner had chosen your cover instead, how do you think their reading experience would differ from yours?

Every keyhole opens to conversation. Take this prompt and respond to each other—no more steps required.

Completely missed the response for week 1. I learned from Amanda's pick that maybe her life hasn't all been rainbows and sunshine, but she's a better person because of it.

Week 2: I don't think Amanda would have a different reading experience with my book so I can't answer this.

Oh I did too! I learned that Jessica is a mother and that means a lot to her, but she also cares for her friends!

Week 2: And same, I feel like you would've probably landed at like 3 stars too but maybe you're a classics lover and I dont know!

• Week: 3
• Book Title: A Spell for Heartsickness
• Author: Alistair Reeves
• Page Count: 334
• Reflection: I've been meaning to try this author for forever

🔐 Week 4 Prompt: Pick a Trope, Any Trope
This lock is a little more dramatic than the others. It wants a twist.
Choose a book with a trope you either love, hate, or can’t stop reading.
Enemies to lovers. Found family. Secret royalty. You know the type.

Your partner has to guess how you feel about it.

• Week: 3
• Book Title: Frankenstein: The 1818 Text
• Author: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
• Page Count: 260
• Reflection: I've been meaning to read this for half my life.

late again 🙈

🗝️ Week 3 Response
This key slipped into place like it had been waiting for you.
Maybe the stories we resist are the ones we need most.

What did your partner’s choice reveal about what they might be ready for now—even if they weren’t before?

MN Lisa wrote: "🗝️ Week 3 Response
This key slipped into place like it had been waiting for you.
Maybe the stories we resist are the ones we need most.

What did your partner’s choice reveal about what they might ..."

Amanda might be ready for some witchy vibes in time for Halloween. She is ready to take chances on new voices.

Jessica is also gearing up for spooky season, just being more adventurous with a classic!

• Week: 4
• Book Title: The Island
• Author: Briar Prescott
• Page Count: 569
• Reflection: Trope is Friends to Lovers

🔐 Week 5 Prompt: Through Their Eyes
The fifth lock is not yours to open alone.
Choose a book that helps you better understand someone else’s perspective—real or fictional, historical or contemporary.
Someone different from you.

Week: 4
• Book Title: Taming Dante
• Author: Joel Abernathy
• Page Count: 298
• Reflection: Enemies to Lovers

🗝️ Week 4 Response
Some keys are forged in pattern.
Whether you leaned in or tried to break free, you told us something.

Were you right about how your partner felt about their trope—or totally off?