Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Weekly Check-Ins
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Week 48: 11/20 - 11/27
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Happy Thursday!I finished a book. I loved the characters so much that I'm glad there are sequels. Plus the protagonist has curly hair.
I am working on a book that will finish the PS prompts I signed up for; my last series book; and my last Nobel book. I also have 3 books on reserve on the library.
And I finally got back into Interior Castle and I'm going to make my daughter restart that buddy read this weekend. I will get my books finished this year.
Finished:
How to Solve Your Own Murder
Popsugar prompt: none
ATY prompt: A book with a cover that has a building or cityscape
Series - 9/10
Reading Across Canada - 9/10
Nobel laureates - 4/5
PS - 38/40
Regular ATY - 44/40 - Completed!
Anniversary ATY - 9/10
Summer Challenge - 5100/5000 points - Completed!
Currently reading:
Interior Castle - 45%
The Doppelgänger - 85%
To Give and to Have, and Other Poems. - 20%
Cabin Fever - 55%
Buddy Reads:
Library of Souls - 20%
QOTW: Both! I love having a book lined up for each prompt. However, because I read series books, Nobel books, and a person prompt each year (this year it was reading across Canada), those books need to go somewhere. Sometimes I can't see where they'd fit until I read them. So, I plan and then I disrupt my plans.
Each year, I end up moving one PopSugar book and one ATY book around as I find a book that only fits one prompt and a book that could have worked in another space gets bumped.
Mod
I finished a book. I loved the characters so much that I'm glad there are sequels. Plus the protagonist has curly hair.
I am working on a book that will finish the PS prompts I si..."
That’s good to know!!! I have that book on my TBD, maybe I’ll put it in for my curly hair book instead of the Stephanie Plum book I was going to read.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!I finished Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone as my book with a left handed character. I didn't think I would ever finish. It took foreeevvveer.
I am still reading Broken as my book with a neurodivergetn author.
Still have 3 books after that. Hoping I make it. I've never been not been finished by this point. Usually mid October.
QOTW: A little of both I guess. The first thing I do is go through the physical books I own to see if anything fits. I only seem to have two for next year, which is crazy. I have like 40 books.
Nadine in NY wrote: "That’s good to know!!! I have that book on my TBD, maybe I’ll put it in for my curly hair book instead of the Stephanie Plum book I was going to read..."I read a lot of mysteries/thrillers and I can say that How to Solve Your Own Murder was the second best I read this year - 4.5 stars.
The best was The Murder of Roger Ackroyd - but that's considered one of her three best. Coming in second to Agatha Christie is great for a debut novel.
I'm traveling this weekend, so I'll do my regular check-in on Monday, but I wanted to stop by and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 QOTW: I do a combination of planning and pantsing. Many of the prompts will fill themselves naturally, but I enjoy the hunt to find the perfect book to fulfill some of the more difficult ones!
Happy Turkey Day everyone for those who celebrate! I may not acknowledge the main reason for this holiday, but we still cook turkey and the like and spend time with family so that's what I appreciate.Can't believe it's the last week of November! Where did this year go, seriously?!
*****
Book News:
Since November is nearly over and I won't be starting anything new yet, that puts me at 16 books for the month so a descent month in terms of my reading.
Overall I've read 178 books forthe year which is insane! What has helped me is that I cut TV out of my daily things. That gives me a lot of free time.
My top 3 books this month ended up being these, all 5-star reads!
Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore
Beyond the Glittering World: An Anthology of Indigenous Feminisms and Futurisms
The Lost Bus (2025): Matthew McConaughey’s Gripping Survival Drama A True Story of Courage, Fire, and Humanity Includes Behind-the-Scenes Insights & Real-Life Case Analysis
*****
Upcoming Reads/December TBR:
I already have 4 books set for December, and then others on the lis,t but these are ones I'm currently focusing on:
Mexico: A 500-Year History
A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore
The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence
The Vanishings: Four Kids Face Earth's Last Days Together
*****
Question of the Week
Are you a planner or a pantser?
Fun question!
I used to be a mood reader/pantser.
This year though, I started planning out a lot of my reading challenges as well as creating monthly wrapped TBRs (where I wrap books for each month and then draw a random number from a TBR jar).
I also do priority reads for each month which include new releases or books I really want to read the most. Those methods have helped so much.
As a mood reader/pantser I would stare at my shelves for a long time and have a hard time deciding on what to read, or rather what I was in the mood for.
By planning, I have not hit a reading slump at all which has been amazing.
I'm already getting my reading challenges and wrapped TBRs set for 2026 so I can have some idea as to what I'll be reading next year and I'm excited for a lot of my picks. Can't wait to see what I draw from my wrapped TBR's.
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. I'm off to help share free meals for those who need them.Nandine, hope you can find something you like. And I never even noticed those badges. I have one too on Netgalley. That might be why publishers just keep emailing me books and I ended up taking too many...
I finished nothing this week. It's been a rough one at work last week so my interest in reading was way down. I do hope to finish the challenge next week though.
QOTW
Ha, as a participant of this challenge I'm the exact opposite of how I am as an author. I'm 100% a planner. My goal, as it is for many of us, is to clear off my TBR pile (so you know, my apartment doesn't collapse under the weight of the books) so I do like going through and finding what I have at hand that fits.
Now I don't always stick to the plan and some I'll have to find through reading, like who has curly hair for this upcoming year.
this is my first time with popsugar. I have been planning and changing my list for next year. I enjoy reading everyone's comments in each prompt. looking forward to the challenges.
Happy Thanksgiving if you’re celebrating! Happy Thursday if you’re not! I’m about to head over to my parents’ house, hopefully the roads aren’t too crazy. Very much looking forward to the four day weekend and seeing the family. Down to four prompts on the popsugar challenge! I might actually finish before New Years Eve for once!
If you’re traveling today, travel safe! Happy holidays!
Finished:
All That’s Left in the World-I liked this, a ya dystopian following a plague that wiped out most of the world. Not my normal genre to read anymore, but I thought it was good!
-happy ending dystopian prompt
The Teller of Small Fortunes-this was very comforting, a cozy fantasy that still addresses some heavier issues. Loved the found family vibes
Currently reading/up next
In the Midst of Winter-for the oldest author on tbr prompt
Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials-this is very depressing to be honest. Well written, well researched, and examining witch trials that don’t get a lot of attention
QotW:
I love to make a list! I love planning out everything I’m going to read, and all the options I could pick up for the different prompts. But then I almost always wind up ignoring my plans and read random books that fill the prompts instead
For the 2026 prompts though, there are a bunch of prompts that I’m not really planning since I think they’re ones I’ll just come across randomly. Like the trans/nb character, curly hair, hidden past, etc- I think I’ll just stumble across them
Nadine in NY wrote: "Apparently at least three of my reviews were chosen by publishers to be featured on a book's page. LOL I wish I knew which reviews...."If you go to your feedback sent shelf, and scroll through your reviews, there will be a blue pencil mark on the cover of the reviews that were featured
Happy Thanksgiving!Remember how I said I was only going to do one challenge? But if it HAPPENS to fulfill a prompt from another challenge, how can I help but notice?
52 book club connections challenge: 5/21
52 regular challenge: 8/52
Against Democracy This was so good! I completely disagreed with his argument but he argued it so well. Definitely going to be one of my keystone texts for my project. Used for prompt, related to word 'nemesis.'
Democratic Reason: Politics, Collective Intelligence, and the Rule of the Many DIdn't get a lot out of this
Grassroots Rules: How the Iowa Caucus Helps Elect American Presidents Unfortunately, was less about how the caucus are won and more about their strategic value in the presidential campaign
Democracy Reinvented: Participatory Budgeting and Civic Innovation in America
How Democratic Is the Constitution?
Parliamentary Democracy: Is There a Perfect Model?
Started: Democratic Authority: A Philosophical Framework This argued for epistemic voting rather than a epistocracy, but it was so boring that I DNF it
This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days
for prompt has something to do with a pop star. In preparation for the Mountain Goats concert!
The Ethics of Identity really good.
QotW: I had to look up the definition of pantser. Are we talking about in general or specifically for the challenge? In general, I'm definitely a planner. My husband is having 20 of his students over tomorrow and he left all the "planning" to the last minute. Driving me nuts. However, for the challenge, I only plan a few books in advance. It's more fun when books just happen to fulfill a prompt.
Hi all! Happy Thanksgiving if you're celebrating! We hosted last night and are going to visit more family tomorrow, but today is chilling, cleaning, and watching football. Might get some snow tomorrow (Nadine's house is looking for quite a bit more than me). We've had very little snow these past few years, so I'm hoping for more this year. I stay in NY for the different seasons- "brown and dead" is not a season! I finished Promise Boys for a book recommended by AI (I used GR Recs, it based it on We Deserve Monuments). I liked it, but the plot was slow in the beginning and the characters blurred together in the second half.
I think that was all I read this week, it's been busy. My reading slows way down this time of year.
QOTW: I love looking around for options that will fit, but really, I'm a total mood reader. I keep lists of ideas, just because I'll forget, but if I actually get to any of my ideas... that's pretty rare.
As much as I love finding options for myself, I often have just as much fun helping other people find books!
Happy Thursday, and Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it.My Thanksgiving did NOT go as planned. I had terrible gut pains and nausea yesterday, to the point where I had my dad drive me to the ER. The verdict -- huge gallstone. The pain and nausea have eased, but now home on a full liquid diet until they can get me in for surgery.
On the one hand, I'm glad they identified the problem and are making a plan of action. On the other hand... I'm missing the biggest dinner of the year. Not fair.
Ah well...
Books read this week:
Moonlit -- started off slow, then tried to pack a LOT of worldbuilding in the second half. And like a lot of fantasy books anymore, especially Kindle freebies, it ends on a cliffhanger. Eh…
Pony Confidential -- what a ride this one was! A woman is falsely imprisoned for murder, and the only one who can exonerate her is the pony she loved when she was a child. Crazy yet surprisingly heartfelt
The Doughnut Fix -- fun read about a New York City kid adjusting to life in a small town… with a little help from a world-famous doughnut recipe.
Slaying the Dragon: A Secret History of Dungeons & Dragons -- an intriguing history of the creation of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game… and how the company was nearly driven into the ground in the ‘90s.
Currently reading:
Diffusion
The Village Beyond the Mist
The Convenience Store by the Sea
The Monsters We Defy
QOTW:
I am very much a planner... though I will deviate from the plan if I end up not liking a book.
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate!Finished:
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley - 5 stars - for a book that reminds you of your childhood. I love this book so much.
Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren - 3 stars - not for a prompt. This wasn't my favorite Christina Lauren romance, but it was fine. A nice, quick read.
I am currently at 48/50 for Popsugar (39/40 and 9/10).
Currently reading:
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine - for two books with the same title.
The Names by Florence Knapp - not for a prompt.
Upcoming/Planned:
Emma by Jane Austen - for a book by the oldest author in your TBR pile.
QOTW:
I am a planner for sure. I have a spreadsheet. :) But I also sometimes wind up rearranging stuff and reading something random and slotting it into a prompt. So I guess a little bit of both.
Happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for this community and for the annual challenge that helps keep me reading! :)Finished 47/50
Twilight for "a book you've been avoiding reading". For a good reason! It was awful! I hated it! Blah!
Currently Reading
Farenheit 451 for "a dystopian book with a happy ending".at least, I hope it does! It was on y'all's listopedia so I'm trusting you!
The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to it for "a book featuring an activity on your bucket list". Only a few days of reading left...T.T
QotW
SUCH a planner. I have a spreadsheet and it's already mostly filled, which reminds me that I need to make a 2026 reading list post! Ah!!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you all spent it well! We are finally seeing some cold weather down here, so I am ready for the warm jammies and hot cocoa! Didn't get much reading done this week, but I did manage to finish 2 books. I read like two Goodreads Choice Award nominees these past two weeks only to find out they don't count towards the bookmark until the winners are announced Dec. 4, so that's annoying. I have two other GR Choice nominees checked out from the library, but I guess I'll have to hold off on those until then. This week, my priority is to take advantage of the break to read the 3-4 books by indigenous authors I have on my nightstand before the end of this month.
2025 Reading Challenges
Booklist Queen- 50/52
Buzzword- 11/12; Cover- 11/12
GR Bookmarks- 8/12
Finished
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology- This was alright. Some stories were more memorable than others. ☆☆☆
Buzzword #11- "never"
Cursed Daughters- I loved My Sister the Serial Killer so of course I was going to pick up the author's next book! Like her debut, this book also focuses on female family members and I enjoyed its themes of fate and agency. The love stories were dramatic and full of longing, my only complaint is that I really didn't buy the love between the youngest and her love interest. But other than that, this was a great read! ☆☆☆☆
Currently Reading
LaRose
Intermezzo
QOTW
For the reading challenges, I'm a bit of both. This year, I did plan mostly. I jotted down 1-3 books from my TBR for each prompt as a sort of outline. However, there were many times where I would read books I hadn't listed down and just used those instead of what I had intended. Next year, I'm trying to be more serendipitous and only planning books for the super specific prompts. I read about 150+ books a year, so I figure I'm bound to come across prompts by chance.
Kenya wrote: "On the one hand, I'm glad they identified the problem and are making a plan of action. On the other hand... I'm missing the biggest dinner of the year. Not fair...."
I'm sorry, Kenya. Bummer timing!
Greetings from NYC, I am sure quite a few of you tuned in to the broadcast of today's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I live on Central Park West about 30 blocks uptown from the start of the parade. I don't go in person anymore. I am short with bad knees and it is just too crowded these days for me. But I went many times im the past and it was wonderful. It also signals the official start of NYC's Holiday Season - tree lightings, decorated windows, train shows, the original print copy of A Christmas Carol on display at The Morgan Library, amd more. Itis NYC at its best.Still have 1 left to read on PS.
Finished:
The Mistress of Bhatia House
Currently Reading - still working on several I started serially:
Cat Among the Pigeons
Silk Route Adventure: On Horseback in the Heart of Asia
George SandApple Cider and Subterfuge
QOTW: total unabashed pantster. In fact, my enjoyment of prompt challenges is in completing them without any advance planning. I adore the serendipity that my casual reading fills the prompts, one after another. Following a plan bores me to tears.
Life update: We finished the ID process for the annuity and got confirmation from the pension fund that they've received the transfer request. We also got the party wall award we were waiting for, so we can go ahead with the work to fix our leaky chimneys. They'll be starting on the 9th of December and hopefully finishing by the 19th. It's all going to be quite tight, because my son and his partner arrive on the 18th for a pre-Christmas visit, and then my mother arrives on the 23rd and will stay till the New Year. My other son and my daughter will probably arrive on Christmas Eve. Oh, and the 19th is also my last day at work before retirement! It all feels a little bit overwhelming right now, but I'm sure it will be fine.Reading update: Tuesday was Vivah Panchami, a Hindu holiday that celebrates Ram's marriage to Sita. I celebrated by reading the second half of Ramcharitmanas 1, which describes the event in detail. It's an excellent translation. I have added it to my "paused" shelf so I can go back and read Ram's infancy stories at an appropriate point in the calendar.
I got the Time Traveler's Passport series as an Audible freebie (it's also free on Kindle Unlimited, I think) and listened to it all this week, although I ended up dnf'ing two out of the six. I was a little disappointed overall.
3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years: John Scalzi does a lot of worldbuilding in the first part of the series that's never properly explored, and sometimes contradicted, in the later instalments.
Making Space: A creepy little story about motherhood, well executed as you would expect from R. F. Kuang, but predictable. Would work as a quick, easy option for the 2026 infertility prompt.
For a Limited Time Only by Peng Shepherd: also a little predictable and plays on the reader's emotions without giving much in return, imo.
A Visit to the Husband Archive by Kaliane Bradley: I dnf'd this because the tonal shift from the previous three gave me whiplash. It's very dystopian. CW for extremely dubiously consensual sex with a distressed, effectively trafficked "spouse".
All Manner of Thing Shall Be by Olivie Blake: Also dnf'd. This time, there was a tonal shift in the opposite direction, with the introduction of supernatural creatures in a comedic setting. I said in my review that it reminded me of Ghosts fanfic.
Cronus by P. Djèlí Clark: Five stars. This is the standout story in the series; it deserves to be a standalone. It's so much better than all the other instalments. Do yourself a favour and just skip straight to this one.
I also read another four books, also fairly short:
But Not Too Bold - GR Fall bookmarks: Hispanic Heritage
Conagher - audiobook, no prompt
The Facts of Winter - Readers of the Wild Moor: twee, cosy; French TBR #1
Cloud Tea Monkeys - Readers of the Wild Moor: a tea theme. This was a delightful way to complete the challenge. It's a children's book, but doesn't shy away from portraying the poverty and harsh conditions of a tea plantation in a child-appropriate manner. The illustrations are gorgeous.
I also dnf'd:
Train Dreams because it opened with a racist murder attempt that I was not expecting or in the mood for
A Tempest of Tea because I didn't like the writing style and was finding too many outright mistakes
The Ballad of Black Tom because of errors in tense usage that were annoying me
Stats:
Readers of the Wild Moor: 2 this week, 30/30 total
GR Fall Bookmarks: 1 this week, 6/9 total
Queer Reads Bracket Challenge: 0 this week, 4/6 total
The German Challenge: 0 this week, 3/10 total
Spanish Titles ABC: 0 this week, 1/26 total
French TBR: 1 this week, 1/20 total
The Great Big Jewish Literature Challenge: 0 this week, 4/21 total
Politics & Philosophy: 0 this week, 5/15 total. I will probably end up not completing this one - when I signed up for it, I overlooked that it had a finish date, unlike the one below, which has similar prompts but is a lifetime challenge.
Anti-Capitalist Inspiration: 0 this week, 9/30 total
Reading About Writing: 0 this week, 2/40 total
All books finished this year: 8 this week, 166 total
DNF or paused: 6 this week, 28 total
Challenges completed this year:
PopSugar, Pride Season, Star Trek Series, Horror Subgenre, Disability Pride, Readers of the Wild Moor, GR Community Favorites, GR Seasonal, GR Summer
Currently reading:
Ring Shout - GR Fall bookmarks: Spine Tinglers
Die Biene und der Kurt - The German Challenge: a modern classic
Midnight's Choice - audiobook, next in series, no prompt
The Complete Mahabharata - spiritual reading, no prompt
Journey to the West (Chinese Lore podcast) - Discord book club, no prompt
QOTW: The planning process is one of my favourite parts of doing a challenge! I have at least one book selected for each prompt in every challenge that I'm signed up for. I don't stick to my plans rigidly, though. If something comes along that seems to be a better fit or suits my mood better, I'll switch.
Hello, y’all.Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much – Gifted to a friend. Removed from my GR. I finally decided to pass this book on to someone else. Sharon is very much an extrovert and is busy with many civic and church activities. It is seldom that she is home for a day. I told her about this book, and she expressed interest…and so it went to her.
Darla has learned Sit, Wait, Okay (as a release), Come, and is working on Walking on a Leash, Down, and Place (going to a particular place she likes on a command). The trainer is happy with both of us. Yay! Our next session is not until December 6 so hopefully Down and Place will be in her repertoire by then.
Finished:
The Winter Queen – PAS. 3.5*
Magic Triumphs – PAS. Next in series. 4*
The Friend – PAS. 3*
Currently Reading:
Black Hotel: A Supernatural Thriller – Kindle. PAS. 16%.
The Awakening – PAS. 33%. Hope to finish this one today.
Spiritual Reading:
Navigating the Bible: The 5-Minute Guide to Understanding God's Word – I am using this book as a brief overview of whatever Bible book I am reading. Currently it is Luke. On hold for now.
The Imitation of Christ – Devotional reading. 48%
The Heart of Stillness, the Elements of Spiritual Practice – Devotional reading. 24%
Just Starting:
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle – PS #10 (free). I own this one, and it is awaiting a less demanding library return date on all other books.
I'm Just a Person – PAS. 9%
On Deck: (library)
The Black and Tans – PAS
Knife Creek - PAS
Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony - PAS, PS #21 (politician)
The Pearl Thief - PAS
On Deck: (owned)
True Detectives – ATY# 52 (sunset vibes)
PS 41/50
ATY 39/52
GR 184/200
QotW:
I am a planner, who is perfectly willing at the half-year mark to start substituting read books for planned books! I usually participate in so many challenges that there is a good chance I can fill some unread prompts by then with other read books.
However, for 2026 PS and ATY challenges, I have given myself permission to not plan every single book. Some prompts just do not interest me and some, like said above, are easily filled with the genres that I usually read.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Awakening (other topics)The Pearl Thief (other topics)
Magic Triumphs (other topics)
I'm Just a Person (other topics)
Knife Creek (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Florence Knapp (other topics)Robin McKinley (other topics)
Christina Lauren (other topics)
Rachel Caine (other topics)
Jane Austen (other topics)
More...
I'm still on my miserable "gotta find a new car toot sweet" journey. Not loving this. Next week I’ll start test driving some models and hopefully I can pick one quickly. Shopping for a car is a misery in the best circumstances, and these are not best. And all this stress has slowed down my reading!!
***** Admin stuff *****
The November group read (which could fill "book about a food truck") is A Psalm for the Wild-Built. You can join the discussion here:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
The December group read, which could fill Prompt #25, A book where the main character is an immigrant or refugee, will be: Everything I Never Told You. Let us know if you'd like to lead this discussion.
And a nomination poll for January, for a book which could fulfill "postpartum," is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...
This week I finished 1 book:
Moonlight on My Mind by Jennifer McQuiston- this was one of my "must read" books for 2025, and I also used it for "title could be a country song" in AtY. I love this author, but this was not her finest book. Still, I hope she comes out of writing-retirement and starts publishing again.
Popsugar 100% 50 /50
Must Reads 90% 89 /10
AtY 96% 50 /52
AtY bonus 100% 10 /10
2025 pub 110% 55 /50
NetGalley ratio 95%
My NetGalley ratio is going DOWN instead of up because I got some more books and I now have five books waiting to be read (all 2026 pubs). I am so weak. It's now unclear if I'll manage to get to 100% by the end of 2025. I did notice I have a "top reviewer" badge on NetGalley now - I had to look that up to see what it meant. Apparently at least three of my reviews were chosen by publishers to be featured on a book's page. LOL I wish I knew which reviews.
Question of the Week
Are you a planner or a pantser?
I’m a planner. I LOVE the planning part, it’s my favorite part of a reading challenge!! I’ve been know to make plans for other challenges and then just not do them.
I’ve got a full plan laid out for all fifty categories. It excites me to see my full spreadsheet of ideas and that one special title highlighted as the book I’ll probably read.
Of course I don’t follow my plan. I generally read only half of the books I select, the other half are serendipitous finds through the year. Because serendipity is exciting too.