Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

For anyone who wants to talk about substituting something else for one or more categories that just do NOT work for you (because they are offensive, difficult, boring, triggering, repetitive, whatever), here is your central location to share ideas!

I have a problem with two of the prompts this year: a different format than usual, and a sapphic comic. I don't do well on audiobooks or graphic novels- I need to see the words for my brain to fully get into the story. I even watch TV and movies with the captions on.

I'll probably just substitute "a sapphic story" for "a sapphic comic". Maybe I'll try to read something that's also available as a graphic novel, or was inspired by a comic, but read it in regular book form. I read plenty of sapphic stories anyway.

For the different format, I'll probably just do an ebook. I don't read that format often, and it's not my preferred way to read, but is is accessible to me.

Ruth wrote: "I have a problem with two of the prompts this year: a different format than usual, and a sapphic comic. I don't do well on audiobooks or graphic novels- I need to see the words for my brain to full..."


For "different format" I had a problem because I already read all popular formats (hard & soft cover paper books, ebooks, audiobooks, graphic novels, picture books, etc) - I was thinking about finding another choose-your-own because I've enjoyed those in the past, but then I found a book that I bought and downloaded as a pdf to read on my computer - this will be only the third or fourth book I've read as a .pdf, so that's "different" enough for me!!

"Different format" can also be large print. Maybe that's an option.

Since I also read all formats fairly equally, I'll be picking a book from someone whose content I usually access in video format. It'll probably be a Critical Role comic or novella, but This Way Up: When Maps Go Wrong by the Map Men and Sitting with Dogs: Stories of Rescue Dogs Going from Lost to Loved work for me too.

You could always read one of those dreaded no punctuation books.... I know most everyone in this group hates those!

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but for "shadow daddy", I'm probably going to go with an absentee father. I so rarely read romance as it is, I'm not going to drive myself nuts trying to figure out if the male lead is enough of a jerk yet protector to qualify. But maybe if I see something getting rave remarks in the weekly updates, I'll find a hidden gem.

I am treating different format as a free space - the prompts seem even pickier than 2025, so I'm taking the easy way out on this one.

For different format, I'm doing foreign language. I found a children's picture book. It will probably take me a lot longer than a little kid to read because I imagine I'll have to look up some words, but I think it should count.

Katy wrote: "For different format, I'm doing foreign language. I found a children's picture book. It will probably take me a lot longer than a little kid to read because I imagine I'll have to look up some word..."
Oh, that's interesting! I also use all the formats, including occasionally graphic novels, so that sounds fun.
My German is REALLY rusty, so this may be a fun way to brush up! I use a few phrases regularly, and break down compound words, but I have only done more on a very occasional basis.

Thank you.

A general idea, based on something a friend did - I usually give her the Popsugar list at Christmas, along with a book that meets at least one of the prompts. This year, the list was so specific that I actually gave her the Popsugar list and the 52 Book Club list, thinking she'd pick between them. What she did instead was started with the Popsugar list, and then for any prompt where she couldn't find a book she wanted to read, she looked at that number prompt from the 52 Book Club list and substituted it in.

So if there's a bunch of prompts that aren't working for you but you don't want to just abandon Popsugar, maybe find another challenge list and make your own amalgamated list...

Joanna G wrote: "A general idea, based on something a friend did - I usually give her the Popsugar list at Christmas, along with a book that meets at least one of the prompts. This year, the list was so specific th..."



That is very clever!!

Jennifer W wrote: "I've mentioned this elsewhere, but for "shadow daddy", I'm probably going to go with an absentee father. I so rarely read romance as it is, I'm not going to drive myself nuts trying to figure out i..."

I'm also not really into the shadow daddy trope. Here's one definition I've seen:

• Dark and brooding
• Morally grey
• Anti-hero
• Aura of mystery or danger
• Powerful, usually shadow-based magic
• Protective and/or devoted to female protagonist
• Big age gap

If you remove the fantasy element (magic) and big age gap, this fits characters like Gayle from Hunger Games. I'm probably going to read a book with a character like that. In fact, I may just reread the Hunger Games, because I've been wanting to rewatch the movies.

Dea wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "I've mentioned this elsewhere, but for "shadow daddy", I'm probably going to go with an absentee father. I so rarely read romance as it is, I'm not going to drive myself nuts try..."

I really don't like the shadow daddy prompt. I was thinking a brooding homicide detective like Harry Bosch or Harry Hole.

I decided if I read a book and it fits, I will use it.

I think I'll have to swap sapphic comic for a sapphic novel and be a bit creative with character running a marathon. I hated the running club prompt :/