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 15:
🔐 Jayme(theghostreader)
C

Would you like a team name?

Hey Jayme! A team name could be fun. Do you have any thoughts? My gut reaction is Scared Stiff lol.

Sure, as good as any.

Cool, I'll post it!

The tasks are posted in the announcement thread, so make sure you find those! Here's the first one:

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: Miss D and Me: Life with the Invincible Bette Davis
Author: Kathryn Sermak
Page Count: 288
Reflection: Bette Davis was organized, always carrying on, sometimes demanding 😳. I like to think I'm organized, since this helps me keep track of books I'm reading and challenges I'm doing.

Still reading my book. About halfway through. Won't get too much reading today. My dister’s getting married today.

Congratulations!! My cousin is getting married today! 🥳

I didn't get home until midnight last night.

I'm at the airport headed home. 11ish hours expected of travel...

Hi Jayme, checking how you're doing? Have you recovered from the late night? I'm super sluggish today after getting home after midnight... :)

I recovered. I am about halfway through my book.

Sounds good! I'm back at work tomorrow. Boo! Did you see the week 2 task dropped?

No, i will check it out.

Ok, i will have something for task 2.

I believe I do too, just gotta finish Week 1 first since we need the locked message. :)

I finished my week 1 today.

Sweet! When you post the completion, are you up for doing the check-in? We need that for the unlock and to move on to the next task. :)

Week 1 [Jolene|52878264] by Mercedes Lackey
Pages : 337
Reflection: Anna father is a miner. They lived in a small town. Anna was always getting sick. Then Anna goes to live with her aunt and finds out she is an Earth master. Anna is determined to learn her new gift. I have determination like Anna.

Checked us in.

Awesome, thanks Jayme! (I assume we can start reading for the second task, since we know what it is, but probably can't post until we get our unlock.)

I think we can.

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

What’s one thing from your book you hope your partner always associates with you?

This message is yours to unlock together. Keep the responses flowing between you; nothing else needs to be checked in.

Yes you can start reading for the second prompt. Hope you are having fun!

Jayme, I appreciate the determination to partner in this challenge. It's sometimes a shot in the dark with partners, never knowing what we're walking into. I hope that my organization is helpful without being demanding lol. 😂

Week: 2
Book Title: It Was Her House First
Author: Cherie Priest
Page Count: 352
Reflection: this has such an intriguing cover that I had to try it. Who couldn't love the vibes of that dark cover, with the sunset, and a house. So spooky!

C wrote: "Jayme, I appreciate the determination to partner in this challenge. It's sometimes a shot in the dark with partners, never knowing what we're walking into. I hope that
my organization is helpful
wi..."
I am also organized :)

Haha, oops, now I feel superfluous lol. 😂 Jk! I knew that Bette Davis was tough as nails while still elegant, but I'm definitely not elegant; I can be tough at least on the outside, but I try not to bring that attitude to reading challenges. 💖

Still reading week 2 book. Week 3 is posted.

Yep, saw the new task and got my book ready for when we're on Week 3. :) Fortunately I had a series I was putting off starting lol.

Week 2
Book by Charlaine Harris
Date read: 09/27/25
Pages:292
Reflection: I thiught this was an interesting cover with the two people dancing in the air.

Checked us in for week 2.

🗝️ 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 gap do you think your partner’s book filled for them—and was it the one you expected?

Yay, week 3! I don't understand the response question tbh. This could have been a purely cover choice, or a series continuation, but I think either way it satisfied curiosity?

Week: 3
Book Title: Disney After Dark
Author: Ridley Pearson
Page Count: 326
Reflection: I've been putting off starting this series

My book is short this week.

Cool! I saw Week 4 had dropped too; maybe we can get a little caught up this week. :)

I will look at week 4.

It's a random prompt lol. We have to pick a trope, and then guess how the other feels about it. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Forbidden love is a trope right?

Yeah, I would consider it a trope.

It could also fit enemies to friends.

Yeah, forbidden love is usually enemies (or family feud) to friends or lovers, so it all fits. :)

Week 3
Book: She's a Mad Hatterby S.J. Ransom
Date read: 10/1/25
Reflection: I had this book for a little whilevand decided to finally read it.

🗝️ 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 gap do you think your partner’s book filled for them—and was it the one you expected?

I think Jayme's book allowed her to read down her physical TBR. That's a joyful thing that I wish I could manage to do. 😂

Week: 4
Book Title: An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good
Author: Helene Tursten
Page Count: 174
Reflection: this had a trope of morally grey main character, that I may love or may hate. Whatcha think? Sorry, trick question lol.

I am starting on my trope.