Hooked on Books discussion
12 Month Challenges
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2026: (Impossible) Challenge: Reading the Tarot
Mod
The Bonus Point System has been revamped this year with new point values and added engagement bonuses. All calculations will be done automatically on your spreadsheet. Here’s how you can increase your points:
🎁 Bonus Page Points: 🎁
⏰Timed Bonus Tasks
1. Winner's Midway Bonus Task:
• Designed by the 2025 Impossible Challenge Winner
• Released midway through the challenge
• Worth 0.03 points per page (with rounding) capped at 30pts
• Must be completed within the allocated time period
2. Monthly Bonus Tasks:
• Released at the start of each month
• Worth 0.015 points per page (with rounding) capped at 15pts
• Must be completed within the allocated time period
3. Quarterly Bonus Tasks:
• Released at the start of each quarter
• Worth 0.02 points per page (with rounding) capped at 20pts
• Must be completed within the allocated time period
🎁 Bonus Points: 🎁
📚 Buddy Reads: 5 bonus points (informal BRs must be officially made by a mod, you can request a thread here)
• Read and participate in the HOB Formal Buddy Read discussion
• Read and participate in an HOB Informal Buddy Read discussion
⏰ Timely Finish Bonus: 2 bonus points per book
• Complete books within the section associated with each month
• Can still complete the book later for regular points, but this bonus is only for "timely" completion
💡 Insight Bonus: 2 bonus points per book
The goal of the Insight Bonus isn’t reviews — it’s conversation.
To earn the bonus, you must start a book-related discussion in the challenge discussion thread by posting a short reflection that invites conversation (a question, opinion, or reaction others can respond to).
Short thoughts are fine. Hot takes welcome. Overthinking discouraged. There is no minimum or maximum length, and no required format. This is meant to help us grow our TBRs and engage with fellow members — not write book reports.
Posts that don’t invite discussion may not qualify for the Insight Bonus.
🎴 Card Spread Fusion Bonus: 2 bonus points per book
• At the beginning of the year, each participant will be given their own 3-card personal spread representing their reading year. For convenience sake, everyone will be receiving an Upright version of their card, so please use that meaning when connecting books to cards!
• For every book you read for the challenge, if the book connects in any way (theme, symbol, character, or mood) to any of your three personal cards, you claim this bonus for that book.
• No lengthy explanation required; just track your connections in the justification cell and check the box if applicable. Don't know what your cards mean? Here is a site to learn: https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-ca...
♻️ No Duplication Bonuses:
• 5 points per section for not duplicating a book within that section
• An additional 20 points for not duplicating any book in the entire challenge
• Can be claimed even if a section is not completed
• Total possible points: 80
Remember, all bonuses will be calculated automatically on your spreadsheet, making it easier for you to track your progress throughout the challenge.
Mod
If you are looking for the newest and/or important recent changes, links will be posted here.
Insight Bonus Change: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
January Bonus Tasks: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Yay! signed up and looking forward to it!Awwww, sad about the page cap. All my 1000+ page books will get ignored again because of the "wasted" excess, lol.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted 😆
I’m in!! First time for me, but after reading through it, I’m excited to give it a go!
Mod
Awwww, sad about the page cap. All my 1000+ page books will get ignored again because of the "wasted" excess, lol.
Oh well, it was fun while it lasted 😆"
Yes, BUT - I changed the bonus point multiplier!
Mod
SIGN UP HERE ➜ https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e...
Ashley wrote: "danielle wrote: "I’m in!! First time for me, but after reading through it, I’m excited to give it a go!"SIGN UP HERE ➜ https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e......"
I saw I missed it. It’s done now! Thanks!
YAY! I signed up! SO excited to start off right!
sounds good, but it probably won't make spending twice as long reading a 2000 page book worth it, lol.I'm grateful for having the opportunity in 2025 though. I'd been wanting to read Decline and Fall... for YEARS, but it was never worth it because challenges wouldn't take into account the months of slog to get through it. Over the moon to finally have it ticked off the TBR!
A page cap was mentioned but I don' see a maximum number of pages anywhere. Is there a cap and what is it?Also, may articles be eliminated for the spell out? The Dagger and the Flame, for example, would the first letter be either T or D, depending on which I want to use or only the T may be used?
✨ Point System: ✨If pages < 100, fixed value = 0.5 points
If pages ≥ 100, = 0.01 points per page (with rounding)
capped at 10pts
So basically, any pages over 1000 are "wasted"
Almost every challenge does that now, so those of us who like longer books never find anywhere to slot them in. HOB this year made a nice change on that score thanks to this and Book Quest 😆
I'm in!Also signed up via Google SS with my Google sheets email. Quick note I very rarely check that email, but that shouldn't be a problem once it's sent to me
Mod
Also, may articles be eliminated for the spell out? [book:The Dagger and the Flame|174547..."
You may ALWAY use or lose the articles for my challenges!
Mod
Also signed up via Google SS with my Google sheets email. Quick note I very rarely check that email, but that shouldn't be a problem once it's sent to me"
It's only to attach you to your spreadsheet, I won't contact you about it.
Mod
Noted for next year... I made the change because I added the tiers for Bonuses, but I'll keep it in mind for future challenges.
Ashley wrote: "Noted for next year... I made the change because I added the tiers for Bonuses, but I'll keep it in mind for future challenges."I appreciate it! Gives me a chance to gather a few more 😂
Changes I'm seeing from 2025's SolarLet me know if I'm misunderstanding any of these
Formal buddy reads are now 5 points instead of 10
Spell it out adds in last letter of title once per set
Monthly and quarterly bonus points are now by page count instead of 2 points each
2 points for a bonus now if completed month of plan (January completion in January section, etc.)
2 points mini review/reflection added
New bonus for our tarot cards if books fits on of our three cards
I love this theme! I've always been fascinated with tarot cards - I actually got myself a deck a couple years ago from https://terravolatile.com/ - I just think the cards are so gorgeous :)
Mod
Just opened the SS - it's absolutely beautiful 😍
Signed up! Woohoo!Not a tarot fan in general, except when it comes to the art involved in the cards. Some of them are just awe inspiring.
Elizabeth wrote: "Just opened the SS - it's absolutely beautiful 😍"👀 I must have missed it! But I look forward to seeing it!
Elizabeth wrote: "check your email!"It's not in mine yet. She's probably assigning them as she has a chance.
Elizabeth wrote: "check your email!"Oooo… now I must go to my laptop so I can REALLY look!
Thanks for the heads up, otherwise I might not have checked for a day or two!
Mod
Ok... so, years ago I used to be really interested in tarot cards. Got my hands on almost every book I could find to create my own (handwritten) book of what each card meant. And I used to go lose my voice from doing readings in a local bar (I was in my 20s 🤷♀️). Now seeing my personal 3 cards - and just this WHOLE challenge - I'm tempted to see if I can find that handwritten book. I'm pretty sure it's somewhere in my home office. Sadly, I don't have my decks anymore (we'll just blame that on an ex who insisted I get rid of them). I'm hoping I find at least the one I bought in person while at a witchy museum on a trip through Salem, Mass. once upon a time.
I think I have a new project for tomorrow - we'll just call it "cleaning my office time". 😉
Elizabeth wrote: "Just opened the SS - it's absolutely beautiful 😍"WOW! I have to agree. The SS is GORGEOUS and so creative. I might have found my favorite challenge going into 2026!!!
😍😍📑
Just signed up. I filled out the form twice because I think made a typo in my email on the first one. The correct one ends with 1996 Sorry if I made it confusing!
Mod
Maybe I will actually finish in 2026! 😂
Sammy, thanks for the explanation. I didn’t pick up on that. LolAshley, I assumed so but wanted to make sure. Thanks. 😊
Mod
A quick housekeeping note:
I’m creating and assigning spreadsheets once or twice a day, depending on when I can squeeze it in. As of right now, everyone who has signed up has their sheet.
Please check the email you provided on the form (including spam/junk).
If you still don’t see it, just let me know, and I’ll resend it.
A few quick clarifications on the bonuses, since I know these will come up:
• Timed Bonuses (Monthly / Quarterly / Winner’s Midway):
This year, I've implemented a different point system for Bonus Tasks, because they are Bonuses after all, and meant to be more challenging, so they award more points than usual. You’ll see the math happen automatically on your sheet; no manual work needed.
• Timely Finish Bonus:
This only applies if you complete the book during the month that matches the card section. If you finish later, you still get your regular points — just not the extra 2. Again, you’ll see the math happen automatically on your sheet; no manual work needed.
• Insight Bonus:
Don’t panic — this is not the Book Quest review bonus. I know that one was universally despised. This isn’t a "review," it isn’t graded, and it isn’t meant to feel like homework.
The whole point is to boost actual engagement here in the challenge thread, since this challenge lives mostly in a spreadsheet and can feel a little removed from the group. Just drop a sentence or two that invites conversation about how the book landed for you — what worked, what didn’t, a reaction others can respond to. That’s it. Think of it as keeping the conversation alive, not writing an essay.
• Tarot Card Fusion Bonus:
Your personal 3-card spread is found in the top right corner of your sheet. It is meant to be flexible! If a book’s theme, symbol, mood, archetype, or character connects to any of your cards, you can claim the 2 points. If you can explain the connection to yourself, that’s good enough. Just don't forget to throw that "justification" in column H!
• No-Duplication Bonuses:
This has not changed from last year, but if you're new to the challenge, just know you don’t need to complete a section to earn these. If you manage not to repeat any books within a section, that’s 5 points. If you manage it across the entire challenge, that’s another 20.
If anything else pops up, I’ll answer as I go. Keep the questions coming — it helps me tighten things up for everyone.
Ashley wrote: "A quick housekeeping note:
I’m creating and assigning spreadsheets once or twice a day, depending on when I can squeeze it in. As of right now, everyone who has signed up has their sheet.
Pleas..."
Quick question. I noticed in the formula for timely bonus it awards 1 point, not 2. Is that right, or are the rules right?
Mod
A quick housekeeping note:
I’m creating and assigning spreadsheets once or twice a day, depending on when I can squeeze it in. As of right now, everyone who has signed up has thei..."
Dangit! I thought I made sure everything was formulating properly! There's always something!
Thank you for catching it - it is, indeed, 2 points. I'll be fixing everyone's sheet! Off to do that....
Mod
Mod
Also, the HOB Formal Buddy Reads for 2026 have been announced! I hope you like them and join us for a few (or all) to get bonus points!
My SS came in now, very pretty Ashley :)
Mod
Glad you like it!
Love the ss and the formal buddy reads for next year!!
Ashley is a SS genius. I wanna grow up to be just like her (I have absolutely no chance! 🤣).
Mod
It's less genius, and more obsessive.... compulsive even....
I still call genius. And I'm sure I can get some folk to back me up there.I keep spending a few weeks here and there trying to learn SS stuff. I've put together a couple of challenges, just to figure out how things work.
Then the next time I go to do more, I can't remember a single thing I figured out the time before 😂
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
A Lonely Broadcast: Book One (other topics)Trainspotting (other topics)
In Other Lands (other topics)
Sense and Sensibility (other topics)
The Martian (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
T. Kingfisher (other topics)Victoria Goddard (other topics)
Jane M. Hightower (other topics)
Katherine Center (other topics)
Katherine Center (other topics)
Duration: January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026
Challenge Rules:
Standard Challenge Rules apply, except...
✨ You may use any page count (under 100 is acceptable)
✨ Each book can be used TWICE to complete the challenge if desired, but you can also complete the challenge without repeating the books. There are bonus points for not duplicating your books.
✨ Follow your own time zone. If you finish the book between the challenge dates in your time zone, it counts.
✨ Re-Reads? Absolutely! Books have a sneaky way of pulling you back in, so whether you read it twice in one year, six months apart, or even a year later, it still counts. Don’t let arbitrary timelines keep a beloved story from getting its due—reading magic is never limited!
Spell Out Rules:
As always, use or lose the articles! Task Rules:
You must be able to justify how your book fits the prompt. Creativity is encouraged, but please hold to the task/prompt. Spreadsheets:
Personal Tracking Spreadsheet: This will be made and linked to you once you sign up!
Member Point Tracker: link incoming
Points will be automatically updated from your spreadsheets!
✨ Point System: ✨
If pages < 100, fixed value = 0.5 points
If pages ≥ 100, = 0.01 points per page (with rounding)
capped at 10pts
🎁 Opportunities for Bonus Points 🎁
📌Make sure that you have notifications turned on, so that you don't miss updates, bonus task notices, etc.
SIGN UP HERE ➜ https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/e...
You need to fill out the form with your Name and Email Address. This will only be used to set up your Personal Spreadsheet and link to the Scoresheet.
🔮 Did you find this challenge late? No problem! You can start anytime before the end of 2026 and add any books you've read during the challenge duration dates!