Hooked on Books discussion

You can use this thread to chat like a Team Thread, or you can ignore it entirely.

Important: If you are a SOLO player, you must choose a level for Month 1 here.

You are welcome to pick a new level in February, but once you make your choice, it is locked in for January.

Your options:
• Easy
• Medium
• Hard
• Ultimate

Players

Anastasia
January Level: Ultimate


Sarah
January Level: Easy


C
January Level: Medium yes, I picked for you, bc you didn't


Bubbles
January Level: Ultimate


Michelle
January Level: Ultimate


Sally
January Level: Easy
January Rule: must include an extra line in every justification this month declaring your undying love for me.


Catsalive
January Level: Easy


Upton
January Level: Ultimate


Geri
January Level: Easy


Ruth
January Level: Ultimate


Sophie
January Level: Easy

Easy. I need to see what I'm getting into first. 🤨

I'm going to start with Ultimate and see what happens

I'm going with Ultimate for now and will most likely regret it 🤣

Anastasia wrote: "I'm going to start with Ultimate and see what happens"

🥳

Spreadsheets should be available by tomorrow! ..... for those that have picked a level.

Michelle wrote: "I'm going with Ultimate for now and will most likely regret it 🤣"

🎆

I’m going for easy - vowed this year I wouldn’t sign up for any thing until I can scrutinise the tasks - so comforted by your assurance that I can back out - my personal plan for my 2026 challenges is use what I have in my TBR not go chasing for books I don’t have.

Very intrigued by this challenge 😀👍

I'm going to shoot for Ultimate!

Bubbles wrote: "I'm going to shoot for Ultimate!"

🙌

I'm going cautiously & starting with easy.

I am going for Ultimate. What is the worst thing that can happen...utter and complete failure. So just another Tuesday.

I’m not brave. 🙂 I’d like easy level, please!

Upton wrote: "I am going for Ultimate. What is the worst thing that can happen...utter and complete failure. So just another Tuesday."

🥳

Bubbles https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Anastasia https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Sarah https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Michelle https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Sally https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Catsalive https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Upton https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Geri https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Sarah R https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
Ruth https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Alright, let’s talk rules… because yes, there are rules. Your level determines your tasks: how many you do and which ones.

Core Task – everyone completes this. Your level doesn't matter here.

"Optional Tasks" – are they really optional? not really. These depend on your difficulty level:

• Easy: Core + Optionals 1 & 2 = 3 tasks
• Medium: Core + Optionals 1–3 = 4 tasks
• Hard: Core + Optionals 1–4 = 5 tasks
• Ultimate: Core + Optionals 1–5 = 6 tasks

💡 Important: No, you do not read one book that counts for all tasks at once. This isn't a Dr. Frankenstein experiment, and you are not creating a monstrous, stitched-together reading abomination. Don't try it… and definitely don't ask the mods about it.

Example – Easy Level (3 books):

• Book 1: MPG Horror
• Book 2: MPG Horror + Published in 2025
• Book 3: MPG Horror + Published in October

Not this:

• Book 1: MPG Horror
• Book 2: MPG Horror + Published in 2025
• Book 3: MPG Horror + Published in 2025 + Published in October

Then, there's the SPELL OUT component... each month has a 6-letter word. Here’s how many letters you complete each month:

• Easy: 6 letters (any option)
• Medium: 6 letters (with 3 restrictions)
• Hard: 6 letters (all restrictions)
• Ultimate: 18 letters (all restrictions ×3) — yes, that means spelling the word three times. You picked Ultimate… don't blame me.

Of course, you don't have to do any of the spell out, but you'll lose points, so… good luck.

So, that’s it… for now. Maybe.

I feel like I'm at that restaurant you always see on the travel channel where they cuss you out and then throw rolls at you. 😂

Sarah - you hit the nail on the head!

Sophie wrote: "can you do my speadsheet ashley"

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

C
January Level: Medium yes, I picked for you, bc you didn't
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

I'm so confused lol. Do we use the example tasks from above for the optional set? 2025 and October?

Sarah wrote: "I'm so confused lol. Do we use the example tasks from above for the optional set? 2025 and October?"

The optional tasks come up once you complete the core task one at a time

Anastasia wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I'm so confused lol. Do we use the example tasks from above for the optional set? 2025 and October?"

The optional tasks come up once you complete the core task one at a time"

Gotcha, thanks!

Hi Ashley… After entering the completion date for my core + 1st optional task, my 2nd optional task did not automatically reveal like the 1st optional did. Is that a fault with my SS or is there a timing restriction for how frequently the optional tasks are allowed? Thanks!

Ruth wrote: "Hi Ashley… After entering the completion date for my core + 1st optional task, my 2nd optional task did not automatically reveal like the 1st optional did. Is that a fault with my SS or is there a ..."

Must be a SS fault as mine came up okay

Anastasia wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Hi Ashley… After entering the completion date for my core + 1st optional task, my 2nd optional task did not automatically reveal like the 1st optional did. Is that a fault with my SS o..."

Thanks, Anastasia. Everything seems to be working okay now. 😊

Ashley wrote: "C
January Level: Medium yes, I picked for you, bc you didn't
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

Thanks Ashley, sorry! I had this challenge written down, but I hadn't looked at my notes yet this year because I hadn't finished a book yet. So catching up!

Hi Ashley, At the easy level, is there any benefit to doing more tasks than required, like a 2nd spellout? Maybe I should just relax now.

Phew!

Finished January - I have decided that I’ll stick with easy for the rest of the year - have learnt a lot - will be better prepared for February (maybe?)

I agree, Sally. I think I’ll stick with easy level too. I’m in a few more challenges (maybe more than a few!) and easy is probably all I can handle.

Catsalive wrote: "Hi Ashley, At the easy level, is there any benefit to doing more tasks than required, like a 2nd spellout? Maybe I should just relax now."

🤨

Geri wrote: "I agree, Sally. I think I’ll stick with easy level too. I’m in a few more challenges (maybe more than a few!) and easy is probably all I can handle."

Same - I have a lot of challenges going on across a few groups, so easy is the only way I can keep my “addiction” under control.

Though having lots of challenges gives me the added personal satisfaction of seeing how many challenge tasks I can cover with the same book - for example my current book covers 11 challenges over 8 different groups!

I'm changing to Hard from ultimate next month. Found the spellout tasks too restrictive to repeat 3 times. One time was enough. Don't think I will finish January's set in time. Still have 8 in the spellout to go

Yeah, I will be doing Easy from now. Maybe I can end up in the positive by the end of the year lol

Ashley wrote: "Catsalive wrote: "Hi Ashley, At the easy level, is there any benefit to doing more tasks than required, like a 2nd spellout? Maybe I should just relax now."

🤨"

❓

I'll stay on Easy for Feb., it's challenge enough without too much pressure. Maybe I'll try Medium in March, we'll see.

I think I will stay at Medium for February. While I won't finish the spellout for January, at least I got to positive points. 🤪

Sally906 wrote: "Though having lots of challenges gives me the added personal satisfaction of seeing how many challenge tasks I can cover with the same book - for example my current book covers 11 challenges over 8 different groups!"

Love when that happens!

Geri wrote: "Sally906 wrote: "Though having lots of challenges gives me the added personal satisfaction of seeing how many challenge tasks I can cover with the same book - for example my current book covers 11 ..."

Success!

How do you put task on the task list? It doesn’t appear to me even the level

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

christene_littlelibrary wrote: "How do you put task on the task list? It doesn’t appear to me even the level

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

The tasks should appear automatically. You announce your level on the sign up page

christene_littlelibrary wrote: "How do you put task on the task list? It doesn’t appear to me even the level

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/..."

I see you have no level on your SS, you may have to go to Q&A to get a response from Ashley.

For February I want to back down to Hard. Ultimate is really kicking my butt.

I think you need to let them know in the sign up thread Michelle

Just managed to finish all my January books

I finished a few days ago. It took me longer than I thought it would.

I have been useless this month. Hoping I accomplish more in February. 😬

I am going Easy for Feb please and Thanks!

@Ashley - at the risk of a punishment, Oh Great Moderator, I mentioned in comment 50 that I would like to switch to easy and I am still on Ultimate. I can stick with Ultimate, but do we need to post our preferences in sign up and not this thread? Thanks!