Pick-a-Shelf discussion

This is the thread for December. Some of the instructions are posted below as well for your ease of reference.

B. Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from October 2025 reads.

C. Like for Like (L4L)
For each of Your Books, pick one shelf from their top 3-5 shelves (aside from "to-read", "currently-reading"). (they may end up being duplicated if you are a genre reader).

You will read a book from each of these shelves (preferably those already on your TBR).

D. Your Options

For this section, you may choose to either read purely from your TBR or new books* or BOTH! There are separate tasks as per below options:

*the definition of new books here is quite liberal; it could literally be a new book you've brought home or newly published book which you've put on your TBR last year or new-to-you... whichever works for you

Each of the books you read for L4L are to be used as starting point for each of below prompts (ie. 1 book cannot be used for more than 1 prompt per option).

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added (could be the month and even if it was a new book you read/added in January 2025, read another book you added in January 2025)

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
^we're not going to be super strict here, it could be exactly identical, found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.


D.2. new books
1. Date: Using one of your books, read a book published in the same year.

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read a book from a series by a new-to-you author OR (for stand alone book) read another book by a new-to-you author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in a flipped position)

4. Title: Using one of your book titles, read from a shelf with a word* in title
www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/[INSERT WORD IN TITLE HERE]
*word cannot be articles, preposition, or connective

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book where the first number of pages is that of your book's last number of pages

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B. Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from October 2025 reads.
1. I Who Have Never Known Men dystopia, science fiction, classics
2. A Great Act of Love: A Novel historical fiction, australia, literary fiction
3. Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief mystery, thriller, crime

C. Like for Like (L4L)
1. science fiction, dystopia == Zone One
2. historical fiction, literary fiction == Sweetland
3. thriller, mystery == Don't Let Him In

D. Your Options

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added
Sweetland == added July 2015 == The Children's Crusade

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
Zone One == One Aladdin Two Lamps

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.
Don't Let Him In == Katabasis

TBR Bender, 12- December

B. Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from October 2025 reads.
1. The Correspondent, Virginia Evans, 31 Oct 2025
fiction, literary fiction, contemporary



2. The Great Mann, Kyra Davis Lurie, 2 Oct 2025
historical fiction, retelling, literary fiction


3. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes, Chanel Cleeton, 14 Oct 2025
historical fiction, mystery, books about books


C. Like for Like (L4L)
1.
2.
3.

D. Your Options

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added (could be the month and even if it was a new book you read/added in January 2025, read another book you added in January 2025)

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
^we're not going to be super strict here, it could be exactly identical, found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.


D.2. new books
1. Date: Using one of your books, read a book published in the same year.

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read a book from a series by a new-to-you author OR (for stand alone book) read another book by a new-to-you author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in a flipped position)

4. Title: Using one of your book titles, read from a shelf with a word* in title
www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/[INSERT WORD IN TITLE HERE]
*word cannot be articles, preposition, or connective

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book where the first number of pages is that of your book's last number of pages

This is the thread for December. Some of the instructions are posted below as well for your ease of reference.

B. Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from October 2025 reads.

C. Like for Like (L4L)
For each of Your Books, pick one shelf from their top 3-5 shelves (aside from "to-read", "currently-reading"). (they may end up being duplicated if you are a genre reader).

You will read a book from each of these shelves (preferably those already on your TBR).

D. Your Options

For this section, you may choose to either read purely from your TBR or new books* or BOTH! There are separate tasks as per below options:

*the definition of new books here is quite liberal; it could literally be a new book you've brought home or newly published book which you've put on your TBR last year or new-to-you... whichever works for you

Each of the books you read for L4L are to be used as starting point for each of below prompts (ie. 1 book cannot be used for more than 1 prompt per option).

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added (could be the month and even if it was a new book you read/added in January 2025, read another book you added in January 2025)

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
^we're not going to be super strict here, it could be exactly identical, found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.


D.2. new books
1. Date: Using one of your books, read a book published in the same year.

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read a book from a series by a new-to-you author OR (for stand alone book) read another book by a new-to-you author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in a flipped position)

4. Title: Using one of your book titles, read from a shelf with a word* in title
www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/[INSERT WORD IN TITLE HERE]
*word cannot be articles, preposition, or connective

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book where the first number of pages is that of your book's last number of pages

Like for Like (L4L)

1. The Orchardist - historical-fiction
Last Twilight in Paris - Completed 11/8/25

2. A Killer's Code - netgalley
Gone Too Far - Completed 11/9/25

3. The Client List - thriller
Strange Sally Diamond - Completed 11/3/25

4. Paranoia - mystery
Vicious Circle

5. Truth in Advertising - fiction
A Line in the Sand - Completed 11/9/25

D. Your Options

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: A Line in the Sand - added 9/1/25
The Chase - added 8/19/25 - Completed 11/7/25

2. Series: Gone Too Far
Can't Go Back (next in series)

3. Author: Vicious Circle by C.J. Box
Black Diamond Death by Cheryl Bradshaw (author with the same first and last initials)

4. Title: Last Twilight in Paris
Every Last Drop (same title word - LAST)

5. Pages: Strange Sally Diamond - 384 pages
The Lost Bookshop - 435 pages (at least 50 pages more) - Completed 11/11/25


D.2. new books
1. Date: Vicious Circle
Gunmetal Gray (both published in 2017)

2. Series (maybe): A Line in the Sand
Misadventures of a Cryptid Hunter (standalone books by new authors) - Completed 11/7/25

3. Author: Last Twilight in Paris by Pam Jenoff
Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson (author with the same first & last initials reversed)

4. Title: Strange Sally Diamond
shelf with a word* in title www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/strange
I Who Have Never Known Men

5. Pages: Gone Too Far - 382 pages
The Boys of Riverside: A Deaf Football Team and a Quest for Glory - 256 pages (the first number of pages is that of your book's last number of pages) - Completed 11/5/25

. Your Books
Pick your 3 - 5 top reads from October 2025 reads.
Valdemar
Dead to the World
She's a Mad Hatter

C. Like for Like (L4L)
For each of Your Books, pick one shelf from their top 3-5 shelves (aside from "to-read", "currently-reading"). (they may end up being
duplicated if you are a genre reader).
You will read a book from each of these shelves (preferably those
already on your TBR).
Magic's Pawn
Arrows of the Queen
D. Your Options
For this section, you may choose to either read purely from your TBR or new books* or BOTH! There are separate tasks as per below options:

*the definition of new books here is quite liberal; it could literally be a new book you've brought home or newly published book which you've put on your TBR last year or new-to-you... whichever works
for you
Each of the books you read for L4L are to be used as starting point for each of below prompts (ie. 1 book cannot be used for more than
1 prompt per option).

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added (could be the month and even if it was a new book you read/added in January 2025, read another book you added in January 2025)
Irresistibly Broken
2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same
author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)


4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
^we're not going t⁴o be super strict here, it could be exactly identical,
found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50
pages more.


D.2. new books
1. Date: Using one of your books, read a book published in the same year.

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read a book from a series by a new-to-you author OR (for stand alone book) read another book by a new-to-you author

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in a flipped position)

4. Title: Using one of your book titles, read from a shelf with a word* in title
www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/[INSERT WORD IN TITLE HERE]
*word cannot be articles, preposition, or connective

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book where the first number of pages is that of your book's last number of pages

December Spot!

B: My Books - October
1. Trust - Fiction / Historical Fiction / 2023
2. Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman's Guide to Finding Contentment - Christian / Non-Fiction / Christian Living
3. Artificial Condition - Sci-Fi / Science Fiction / Fiction

C. Like for Like
1. Salt to the Sea Shelf: Historical Fiction Added: Mar 10, 2023
2. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies Shelf: Non -fiction Added: Jun 15, 2022
3. Aurora Rising Shelf: Science Fiction Added: Dec 31, 2018

D.1. Your TBR
1. Date: Using one of your books, read from closest date added (could be the month and even if it was a new book you read/added in January 2025, read another book you added in January 2025)
A Castaway in Cornwall (added Jun 9, 2022, using Guns, Germs, and Steel)

2. Series (maybe): Using one of your books, read the next book in the series or (for stand alone book) read another book by the same author
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (using Salt to the Sea)

3. Author: Using one of your books, read a book from an author with the same initials (first & last only in the same position)
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon (using Aurora Rising, Amie Kaufman)

4. Title: Using one of your books, read a book with an identical^ word in title
^we're not going to be super strict here, it could be exactly identical, found intact or just of similar nature (eg. monster - monstrous is acceptable)

5. Pages: Using one of your books, read a book with at least 50 pages more.

Read: 0/6

December TBR Bender
Read: 0/6

Top 3 October Reads:
* Ayiti - Short Stories, Poetry, Feminism
* Britt-Marie Was Here - Contemporary, Book Club, Humor
* Playing Hard to Master - BDSM, Romance, Erotica

Like for Like (L4L):
* Ayiti - Short Stories
1. The Age of Calamities - Short Stories

* Britt-Marie Was Here - Book Club
2. Five French Hens - Book Club

* Playing Hard to Master - Romance
3. The Pawn - Romance

TBR:
Date: The Age of Calamities - added July 2025
4. We Who Have No Gods - added July 2025

Series: The Pawn - first in series
5. The Knight - second in series

Pages: Five French Hens - 334pp
6. Spinning Silver - 466pp

TBR Bender ❱❱ December
December 2025

My December TBR Bender (msg 10)

November Books
🔺Framed in Death ❱❱ mystery; romance; thriller; futuristic; crime
🔺The Vampire Book Club ❱❱ mystery; cozy mystery; paranormal; vampires; witches
🔺Forward Passes ❱❱ sports; romance; contemporary; football; erotica

Like for Like



mystery ❱❱ Framed in Death
🔺State of Shock
vampires ❱❱ The Vampire Book Club
🔺Undead and Unworthy
erotica ❱❱ Forward Passes
🔺Beyond Ruin

Options - TBR



Date ❱❱ Undead and Unworthy ❱❱ added July 2024
🔺Beware the Darkness
Author ❱❱ State of Shock ❱❱ initials MF
🔺Delirious
Pages ❱❱ Beyond Ruin ❱❱ 323 pp ❱❱ 460 pp
🔺Forsaken Duty

Options - New



Date ❱❱ Undead and Unworthy ❱❱ published 2008
🔺Just A Taste
Series ❱❱ State of Shock ❱❱ new series/author ❱❱ Love at First Bite
🔺Drop Dead Gorgeous
Pages ❱❱ Beyond Ruin ❱❱ 323 pp ❱❱ 316 pp
🔺Finding Southern Comfort

December
Goal: 3 Books
Read: 1/9

October Books
1. Only Enchanting by Mary Balogh
Shelves: Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Mary Balogh
2. Magic Tides by Ilona Andrews
Shelves: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, 2023, Paranormal, Magic
3. Last Guard by Nalini Singh
Shelves: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, 2021

Like for Like
1. Historical Romance - The Viper by Monica McCarty
2. Urban Fantasy - Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs
3. Paranormal Romance - Shadowbound by Bec McMaster (441)

Options - TBR
1. Date (February 2023): Faking It by Jennifer Crusie
2. Series: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs
3. 50+ Pages (491+): The Dark Days Pact by Alison Goodman (496)

Options - New
1. New author: A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain
2. Title (Shelf-Silence): [[book:An Evil Heart|61884979] by Linda Castillo (P.7)
✔︎ 3. Date (2016): The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Read: November 7, 2025
Rating: 3 Stars