Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Team Members

Linguist
🎤Kenda

Listeners
🎧AliciaJ
🎧Amber
🎧Ashley GR
🎧Aiswyra
🎧Christene_LL
🎧Tink

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. Linguist (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 6 November

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 | Announcements 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 : 🎤📣Homophones 📣🎤
Words that are pronounced the same, but spelt differently and have a different meaning

**Only one of each homophone has the task designed around it. I'm unsure if some nationalities pronounce some of these words differently, so apologies in advance if that is the case.**

The usual bookcover, precis, main page, tag or list will need to be provided to show how the book qualifies EXCEPT for task 9 which will operate on an honour system with me likely doing some random checks to make sure everyone understands the process.


1. Sea | See - read a book with glasses or sunglasses on the cover.

2. Bear | Bare - read a book where the cover model is half-naked.

3. Hear | Here - read a book available in audio.

4. Birth | Berth - read a book with kids or pregnancy in the story.

5. Mail | Male - read a book with a male cover model.

6. Canon | Cannon - read a book with MPG Military or Suspense.

7. Creak | Creek - read a book with ghosts per the precis or with tags 'ghost' or 'spook', or MPG Horror.

8. Hole | Whole - read a book from a series that is complete. For this to count, there must be NO unpublished books on the series list.

9. Incite | Insight - go to My Books. Scroll down to My Year In Books and click. Record the avg page length. Read a book that is +/-50 pages of that page length. Eg avg page length is 240. Read a book that has a page length between 190 and 290 (inclusive). Please note - the minimum page number requirement of 100 pages must still be met.

10. Week | Weak - read a book with a non-alpha MC.

11. Eight | Ate - read a book with at least one 8 in the publication date.

12. Blew | Blue - read a book with blue on the cover.

13. Cell | Sell - read a book tagged 'crime', 'prison', 'lawman' 'law enforcement', 'LEO'. These words are the ONLY tags that will work. They may appear in combination with another word but it must complement that word, not contradict the meaning.

14. Knows | Nose - read a book where the nose of the cover models is shown. This can be in profile or front on, but the whatever the angle, the nose must be completely included.

15. Won | One - read a standalone book.

16. Hour | Our - read a book that is found on one of the RRRC Moderator's shelves.

17. To | Too | Two - read a book written by two authors or a book with an audio version that utilises two narrators.

18. New | Knew - read a book first published in 2025.

19. Rain | Reign - read a book with MPG historical.

20. Tail | Tale - read a shifter book or a book with a pet (must be stated in the precis or on the GR book page eg MPG shapeshifter).

READ SHELVES FOR THE TEAM


Kendra - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
AliciaJ - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Amber - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Ashley GR - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Aiswyra - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Christene_LL - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Tink - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...


TRACKING POSTS

✅ Week 1 - New | Knew
✔️ Kendra - Opt 1 | No Contest | S msg 46 | C msg 55
✔️ AliciaJ - Opt 1 | Kiss My Axe | S msg 37 | C msg 43
✔️ Amber - Opt 1 | Say You'll Remember Me | S msg 38 | C msg 54
✔️ Ashley GR - Opt 1 | Benji | S msg 52 | C msg 53
✔️ Aiswyra - Opt 1 | Shield of Sparrows | S msg 42 | C msg 48
✔️ Christene_LL - Opt 1 | The Raven Scholar | S msg 36 | C msg 45
✔️ Tink - Opt 1 | Wildflowers | S msg 40 | C msg 41

Week 2 - Cell | Sell
✔️ Kendra - Opt 1 | The Apprenticeship of Julian St. Albans | S msg 74 | C msg 75
✔️ AliciaJ - Opt 1 | The Allure of Ruins | S msg 62 | C msg 66
⏹️ Amber - Opt 1 | The Sinner | S msg 60
✔️ Ashley GR - Opt 1 | Hostile Ground | S msg 76 | C msg 77
✔️ Aiswyra - Opt 1 | Never Stay Gone | S msg 78 | C msg 79
✔️ Christene_LL - Opt 1 - The Cuckoo's Calling | S msg 61 | C msg 73
✔️ Tink - Opt 1 | Obsidian Liquor | S msg 64 | C msg 65

Week 3
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Tracking Posts

Week 4
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Week 5
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Week 6
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Week 7
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Tracking Posts

Week 8
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Week 9
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Week 10
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Week 11
⏹️ Kendra
⏹️ AliciaJ
⏹️ Amber
⏹️ Ashley GR
⏹️ Aiswyra
⏹️ Christene_LL
⏹️ Tink

Hello!! Welcome to Team 4!

I'm Kendra from Connecticut. Sorry it took so long to get this set up, but my 12 and 16 year old kiddos were out doing the Halloween thing last night. I'm a hockey mom of 3, so I spend a lot of time freezing my buns off at the hockey rink.

My reading tastes are varied with tropes, but I only read MM romance with an occasional FF thrown in.

We need to come up with a team name this week. I'm generally horrible at coming up with ideas. We are team number 4, so is there anything related to the number four or the homophone for/four? Any ideas are great ones.

Just saying a quick hi before heading to bed. I’ll come back and introduce myself tomorrow :)

Hi team! My name is Aiswrya (aish-war-ya), live in New Jersey with my husband. I’ve played this challenge several times in the past, and I’m very excited to play another round with all of you!

I read pretty much everything, but am a bit of a moody reader. That’s also why I love this challenge, since there is no restriction on MPG 😊

I’m also terrible at coming up with names. I can ask ChatGPT if no one else comes up with anything lol

Hi!! Welcome to the team! :-)

Thanks Kendra! I don’t think I’ve been on team challenges with any of our team before, which almost never happens lol. Friend requests sent to everyone :)

Hi everyone! I’m Christene from PH! I’ve also played this challenge before and I’m excited to start this with you people. I usually read fantasy, romance and thriller. And I’m more into series than standalone.

Hey Everyone! I'm Amber from Michigan. I have played this challenge before and looking forward to another round. I will read anything and everything, but gravitate more towards MF contemporary romance.

Welcome! It's great to meet you guys!

So I'm trying to come up with some team names. Let me know if you like any of these or if you have some ideas of your own. Please come up with some. I'm not good at this! Google had to help me. lol

The Bare Bear Readers
Well Read
Would Rather Be Reading
Sisterhood Of The Traveling Books
Reading is Lit
As The Page Turns
Lit Happens
Booked on a Feeling

A few more options:

Tale (Tail) Enders
Raze (raise) the bar
Pear (pair) of plot twists
Here (hear) for the books
The Rite (right) reads

Those are better than mine. Lol

Hi! I’m Ashley. I’ve been living in Europe for the past ten years and am currently in England with my husband, three daughters and cat. I read MM but some MF is always thrown in from time to time. I’ve never done this challenge before but hopefully will be a fast learner.

Kendra wrote: "Those are better than mine. Lol"

Haha thanks to ChatGPT 😂

I really need to embrace the ChatGPT. Google searching just doesn’t cut it anymore. Lol


Welcome Ashley!

Great team names! I like Booked on a Feeling or Here (Hear) for the Books

I like both of those. Anyone have any preference on these?

I like booked on a feeling!

That works!

I’m good with Booked on a Feeling!

Christine- does that work for you?
I’m going to try to reach out to AliciaJ to make sure she is coming to join us.

I’ll try to confirm our name later tonight unless I get any strong no responses.

OK. I'm going to go ahead and lock in our team name as Booked on a Feeling.
We might be kicking off sooner than expected, so get ready for some fun!

Thanks!

No word from Alicia?

I'm going to put Tink Magoo in this team, in case Alicia has forgotten that she signed up. And if Alicia joins, then you have a team of 6 which is the same as half the other teams :)

Hi everyone,

I'm Tink, I live in England with my husband, 2 older kids and herd of guinea pigs.

I mostly read MF with a bit of MM . I'm a mood reader, so it changes quite a bit, but it's been more fantasy lately.

Thanks for having me

Hi Tink, nice to meet you :) sent you a friend request.

Hi Tink! Welcome to the team!!!

Jane is in a good mood today, and we got our first task early!!! 🥰


Option 1
18. New | Knew - read a book first published in 2025.
Please use the date on the main book page. If there are a few editions, click on 'Show all xx editions' to work out the first date of publication to ensure it fits the task.


Option 2
Key date: 2 May 2025
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.

Hi everybody! I’m Alicia. Sorry I’m late, but I’m happy to be here. I read pretty much everything when it comes romance, it’s my top favorite genre. Love the name by the way!

Welcome Alicia! 🥰

Selection Post
Option 1
Category: 18 New | Knew - read a book first published in 2025

Week #1

Bookcover/link: The Raven Scholar
Page numbers: 656
How the book qualifies - published on April 15, 2025

Selection Post
Option 1

Week #1


Title: Kiss My Axe
Page numbers: 366
How the book qualifies - published on 10/28/2025

SELECTION POST - WEEK #1 - OPTION #1

Book: Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez
Pages: 416 pgs
How It Fits: First published 4/1/25

I’ll post my selection tonight or tomorrow. I just got out of Rhode Island Comic Con. 🥰

Selection Post

Week #1 - Option 1

Book: Wildflowers
Page numbers: 262
How the book qualifies: published July 8th 2025

Completion Post

Week # 1 - Optioon 1

Book: Wildflowers
Rating : 4 stars
Review:
Post-apocalyptic/end of the world romance is one of my favourite genres, but it's rare to find anything half decent. While this was a more lighthearted story of the end of the world, I found it really easy to read and loved the dynamic between the 2, especially when they reached the town.

Week 1 Selection Option 1

Shield of Sparrows
Pages: 528
Fit: published May 2025

Completion Post - Week 1
option 1



Book: Kiss My Axe by May Archer
Rating : 4 stars
Review:
This was a typical May Archer story, with quirky characters, small town vibes, and a sweet love story. Griffin and Beckett have a real rocky start, but neither of them can resist the sparks that fly between them every time they're in the same vicinity. The story was pretty fast-paced, especially when they got involved in the Pickle Festival, of all things. Between that and the great, somewhat goofy, secondary characters, I was cracking up throughout the story. Looking forward to the next one in this series.

🦩

Completion Post

Week # 1 - Option 1


Book: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
Rating : 4 stars
Review:
Loved this one! I hope the next book come out right away! The unexpected twist at the end is a good cliffhanger for the next book.

SELECTION POST
Week 1 - Option 1
Category: 18 New | Knew - read a book first published in 2025


No Contest: A MM Hockey Romance by Declan Rhodes
323 pages
how it fits: published 10/22/25

I’m reading just need to post! Sorry it’s been a busy weekend.

Week 1 Completion Option 1

Shield of Sparrows
Pages: 528
Read: 11/9
Rating: 5 stars
Review: LOVE this story! 2nd read in as many months haha! Really enjoyed the banter, slow-burn, and the overall plot. Can't wait for the next book to come out!

christene_littlelibrary wrote: "Completion Post

Week # 1 - Option 1


Book: The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson
Rating : 4 stars
Review:
Loved this one! I..."

Looks like a good one! Added it to my TBR :)

Aiswrya wrote: "Week 1 Completion

Shield of Sparrows
Pages: 528
Read: 11/9
Rating: 5 stars
Review: LOVE this story! 2nd read in as many months haha! Really enjoyed the banter, slow-burn, and the..."

I read this last month! And I loved it too!